Internet Insecurity Takes Its Toll

A report released yesterday by The Consumer Board and TNS finds that "Growing security concerns have caused Internet users to alter their online behavior. Consumers are most wary of online financial transactions, followed by making online purchases. More than half of online consumers say their level of concern has grown over the past year and many have changed the way they use the Internet. Latest survey data show that more people are buying less online."

You can find the press release about the study at
 http://www.conference-board.org/economics/consumerBarometer.cfm

I'd been wondering lately what effect the reports of identity theft might be having on Web activity. Are those of you working for companies with e-commerce Web sites seeing any drop-off in traffic or any customer resistance to supplying personal information or conducting financial transactions at your site? What do you do to reassure customers that you're keeping their data safe?

--Renee Munshi