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ID theft influences consumers' behaviour

Fears over ID theft have influenced the way 39 per cent of consumers conduct themselves online, according to a new study by research and consulting firm Gartner Inc.

Online security concerns are also forcing some consumers to cut back on their online spending, with 59 per cent of those that have changed their behaviour saying they have cut back.

While 71 per cent say they are more cautious about the websites they make purchases on, 67 per cent say they are more careful about entering personal and financial information on online platforms.
According to Avivah Litan, the vice president and analyst at Gartner, nearly twice as many people who fell victim to fraud in 2008 changed their shopping, payment and e-commerce behaviour.

"Fraud victims are also more cautious about which brick-and-mortar stores they shop at and how they pay for goods when they get there, demonstrating more awareness of the risk of data breaches," she added.

Some 5,000 US adults participated in the survey.

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