Depravity and fraud biggest internet fears

Fears about fraud and moral depravity are the biggest obstacles to universal Internet use, a survey suggested today.

Fears about fraud and moral depravity are the biggest obstacles to universal Internet use, a UK survey suggested today.

:: The survey by Which?online found that six out of 10 people were still worried about being defrauded if they shopped on the worldwide web.

:: More than half of over 2,000 people surveyed said they were concerned about inappropriate material, such as child pornography sites.

:: Seven out of 10 adults also agreed that the Internet should be regulated to stop rogue traders and deviants.

:: Almost eight million adults in Britain have now shopped on the net. Books are the most popular online purchase, while flights and holidays have overtaken CDs and videos to move into second place.

:: More than 16 million people in Britain are now connected to the Internet 36% of the population.

:: Internet use continues to rise, particularly among women who make up 45% of all people logging on.

:: Shopping transactions on the Internet are predicted to rocket from under £1 bn in 1999 to £18 bn a year by 2005.

:: A recent survey by WebatWork found nearly half of all office employees spend more than three hours a week surfing the Internet while at work.

:: More than half of the workers questioned admitted booking their holidays on the Net at work, 41% research a hobby, 27% watch a sports event and 28% visit retail websites.

:: The Internet was thought to have started on October 20, 1969, when the the first data was sent from one computer to another in the United States.

:: It was sent via ARPANET, a network developed by the US Government and academics.

:: In 1991 British scientist Tim Berners Lee invented the World Wide Web while working in Geneva.