A survey showed that fewer than 50 per cent of the UK's home PC users are Internet security-aware feeling not responsible for protecting their personal information while surfing the Web.

The vast majority of security-aware users were those who use online banking facilities. The survey found that 12 per cent of Internet users have been exposed to a threat of online fraud in the last year at an average loss of £875.

Nearly 50 per cent of the Internet users surveyed online admitted they feel personally responsible for keeping their sensitive data safe. One in six was convinced it's the bank or online service provider responsibility to keep their personal information safe.

But technology itself isn't sufficient to keep users safe in their online activities. There must me human input that ensures surfing the Internet is as safe as possible.

The research found that online fraud victims aren't the only ones who suffered from lack of safety-awareness. Many of the Internet users have become victims of identity and/or bank or credit card details theft.

It must be stressed, that anyone who uses online financial transactions must educate themselves about potential risks, because the most popular Internet shopping centres and websites are often targeted by fraudsters.

For example there is a common problem with eBay accounts, where fraudsters stole login details to the accounts with good feedback and use them to rip unaware users off.

Moreover, there are an increasing number of spoof sites which look very much like the real online banking sites or even eBay site that are used to intercept login credentials and personal information of unaware users. eBay has already set up tools to protect users. Those who suspect fraud can send for example suspicious emails they get to their email address to a special address where it's verified to be fake or real.

A common problem amongst Internet users is when they respond to scam messages. Scam messages, often referred as to a spam, are often used by spammers to get email address of a user that confirmed reception of a spam message by replying to it. The survey showed that nearly 10 per cent of those who got spam, click on a link in the message. But many of affected users don't report it which may leave the real number of the cases unknown.