Survey: 40% Confident No Damaging Information About Them Exists Online, While 36% Have No Clue

PRESS RELEASE

Tettnang/Mnchen, Germany --- July 5, 2011 A recent survey of its customers conducted by IT Security Expert Avira and Ruflotse, a leading online supplier for privacy and reputation protection, found that an almost equal number of respondents claim no negative information exists about them on the Internet while the other half has no idea if damaging info exists and doesnt keep tabs on their online reputation.

A survey question was presented to Aviras 100 million customers worldwide during May, 2011: Be honest; is there any unpleasant or potentially damaging information about you on the Internet?

A) 40% - No, there is no negative information about me on the Internet.

B) 36% - No idea, I've never monitored whether anything bad about me exists.

C) 15% - Yes, unfortunately. If I knew how to do it, I would delete the information right away.

D) 6% - Yes, but I don't really care. It doesn't bother me.

E) 4% - Not any longer - I erased all the information.

- 1,555 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 2.49 percent.

This survey highlighted the two main groups of Internet users: those that care about their online reputation and those that dont bother to keep track, said Travis Witteveen, COO Market & Operations from Avira. Its critical to know what information exists about you online because if its negative it can damage your reputation, and not knowing isnt much of an excuse in this generation of instant information.

Avira and Ruflotse offer these tips to stay safe online: