Surfing on Thin Ice: Consumers and Malware, Adware, Spam and Phishing

Citation
Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), Surfing on Thin Ice: Consumers and Malware, Adware, Spam and Phishing (June 1, 2006) (full-text).

Overview
This research investigates Australian residential consumers' experiences with e-security and identifies areas of concern and their implications on telecommunications policy and telecommunications regulation. Findings and recommendations were formed through a literature review and an online survey of 254 Australian consumers.

Though a minority of Australian consumers may be suffering financially as a result of e-security problems, many more may be suffering productivity-wise, and stopping or changing the way they use the Internet because of e-security concerns. Furthermore, though awareness of e-security threats may be reasonably high, consumer understanding of these threats and how to protect themselves against them may be lacking.

Consumers surveyed looked to Internet Service Providers, Government and fellow consumer]s to take more responsibility for [[e-security. The report recommends the development of consumer protections, development of consumer education, and further research around e-security issues.