The document summarizes research on public attitudes and beliefs regarding security and privacy online. It finds that while there is strong support for internet freedoms like expression, majorities are also concerned about privacy, security, and the authenticity of online information. Surveys from over 60 countries show cross-national differences in these attitudes. The research aims to understand how attitudes have changed over time, are distributed socially and globally, and to explore the implications for the vitality of the internet.

1. Feeling Secure Online?
Beliefs and Attitudes on Security and Privacy
Bill Dutton
with Grant Blank, Gillian Bolsover, Elizabeth Dubois, SoumitraDutta, and
Ginette Law, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
Presentation for the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre Inaugural
Conference, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, 25 November 2013.

2. • Devices
• Networks
• Trusted Platforms
Technical
Infrastructures
Institutional Policies
and Practices
• Insider Threats
• Unauthorized Access
• Monitoring
• Rights
• Security
• Privacy
• Trust
Public Perceptions

3. Social and Cultural Dimensions of
Cyber Security
Attitudes
• Concerns
• Trust
Beliefs
• Privacy
• Security
Practices
• Know-how
• Actions taken

4. Questions about Attitudes and Beliefs
How serious are public concerns?
How have they changed overtime?
How are they distributed – socially and globally?

5. Research Foundations for Study of Public Attitudes and Beliefs
Oxford Internet
Survey 2003-13
• Over 2000 face-to-face interviews
• Multi-stage probability sample of UK
• Every two years – Feb-March 2013
WEF 2010
• Web-based stratified sample survey, English
• Oct-Nov 2010 by comScore
• 5,400 Internet users, 13 countries
WEF 2012
• Web-based stratified sample survey, 9 languages
• July-Sept 2012 by ComScore, Toluna (ictQATAR)
• 11,225 respondents, 63 countries

6. High
Penetration
Moderate
Penetration
Low
Penetration
Fringe
Penetration
USA
Argentina
Mexico
South
Africa
Canada
Columbia
Brazil
India
UK
Italy
Peru
France
Spain
China
Germany
Australia
Japan
South
Korea
Saudi
Arabia
Egypt
Nations with
over 300
respondents
in 2012 WEF
Survey.

7. Dutton, W. H., Law, G., Bolsover, G., and
Dutta, S. (2013), The Internet Trust Bubble.
New York: WEF.
Dutta, S., Dutton, W. H., and Law, G.
(2011), The New Internet World.
New York: WEF, April.

8. The Internet Values Project:
‘The New Internet World’
1. New online nations are
dominant in the New World;
2. Users developing a global
Internet culture: sharing similar
values and attitudes;
3. Newly adopting countries are
as liberal, if not more so, such
as in support for freedom of
expression, privacy;
4. Users in the newly adopting
nations are more innovative in
some patterns of
use, e.g., social networking.

9. An Internet Trust Bubble?
Support for
Freedom of
Expression, but …
Concern over
Privacy &
Security
Trust in
Authenticity of
Information?
• 78% view access to the Internet as a fundamental right
• 75% believe people should be able to say what they feel about
their government online, and be anonymous at times (61%) but …
• Bare majority (54%) believe it is safe to express views online
• 71% of users careful about what they do or say online
• 61% believe the Internet puts privacy at risk, and 67% feel
organizations ask for too much information
• 63% concerned about being monitored online
• Users in emerging nations less aware of risks, more trusting
•
•
•
•
Online news as trusted as traditional news, but …
only 43% trust social media as a source
48% do not trust information written and edited by many people
One in four concerned about authenticity of online information

10. Beliefs about Online Privacy
• Organizations, companies ask for too much
personal information online (67%)
• People who go online put their privacy at risk
(61%)
• There is personal information about me that is
collected on the Internet for reasons I do not
know (58%)
• People I do not know have access to my online
personal information (57%)
• The government monitors what people do on the
Internet (50%)

11. Beliefs about Security Online
• I have control over the information I disclose
about myself online (62%)
• The personal information I put online is kept
safe (45%)
• I feel safe providing some personal
information such as my name, birth date, or
phone number on the Internet (41%)
N = 10,208.

12. Concerns about Online Security
• Someone breaking into your Internet account
or e-mail (72%)
• Information you provided for one purpose is
being used for another purpose online (67%)

13. Practices to Protect Privacy-Security
• Scan your computer for mobile devices for
viruses or spyware (65%)
• Check your privacy and security settings
online (54%)
• Read privacy policies before using a Web site
or service (41%)

14. Trust to Protect your Personal Data
Percent Trusting
Banks, financial inst.
Prov. Health, medical
Gov't authorities
ISPs
Mobile phone comp.
Percent Trusting
Telephone Comp.
Search engines
Shops, dept stores
SNS providers
Online marketers, ad
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70

15. Trends Over Time: Focus on the UK
Stability
Steady or
Declining Bad
Experiences
Small but
Increasing
Problems
• Level of concern over privacy
• Comfort revealing personal details
online
• Viruses
• Bank details
• Obscene emails
• Misrepresentation
• Stolen credit card details

16. Concerns and Actions to Address Bad Experiences, UK, 2013
90
80
70
60
50
Concerned
40
Did Something
30
20
10
0
Unpleasant experience
Spam
Viruses via email

18. An Internet Trust Bubble?
Norms
Support Core
Values
• Freedom of Expression
• Privacy, Security & Authenticity
Global
Concerns
• Expressing Views Online
• Privacy and Security
• Governmental Monitoring & Surveillance
• Authenticity of Information
Research Foci
• Patterns of Cross-national Differences
• Differences among Users
• Implications for the Vitality of the Internet