US internet users are far more worried about computer hacking and theft of personal information than about online privacy and tracking by marketers, a poll shows.
The survey conducted for the Computer & Communications Industry Association found that internet users are most concerned about the theft of personal and financial information, and believe that the federal government should do more to protect them.
When the respondents were asked, "Which generally worries you more?" 80 per cent said becoming the victim of hacking or online theft, while 16 per cent were more worried that companies will use the information they share online to target advertising to them.
"By wide margins this survey clearly shows that identity theft has touched the majority of consumers in some way, and that hacking is more worrisome to consumers than tracking, and that voters want the government to more aggressively go after cyber criminals," said Ed Black, president and chief executive of the tech trade association.
"Safeguarding users online must become a higher priority for companies and also for the regulators and policymakers charged with protecting consumers."
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The survey found 75 per cent of respondents were worried about their personal information being stolen by hackers and 54 per cent about their browsing history being tracked for targeted advertising.
However, when asked to choose which one is more important to them, 87 per cent mentioned the need to protect their personal information from criminals.
More than half - 55 per cent - said they or someone they know had their email account breached and 50 per cent said they or someone they know had their financial accounts breached online.
Nearly three out of four respondents said they opted not to allow a service to remember their credit card information; 65 per cent have chosen to set their browser to disable cookies that identify them; and 53 per cent have chosen to block an app from accessing their location information.
The poll showed lesser concerns about targeted online advertising: 61 per cent said they preferred free online services supported by targeted ads compared with 33 per cent who said they would pay for online services that have no targeted ads.
About 1000 adults were interviewed by Benenson Strategy Group and American Viewpoint from November 12 to 18 for the survey, with a margin of error estimated at 3.02 percentage points.
