According to a new Eurobarometer published, the 89% do not disclose personal information online, and 74% agree that the risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime has increased in the past year. Nonetheless, 53% have not changed any of their online passwords during 2011.

A new Eurobarometer published by the European Commission show that although 12% of internet users across the EU have already experienced online fraud, and 8% have fallen victim to identity theft, 53% have not changed any of their online passwords during the past year. The survey, which covered a total of almost 27,000 people in all EU member states, shows a strong link between being informed about the risks of cybercrime and feeling confident online. In March 2012, the Commission proposed to set up a European Cybercrime Centre, or EC3, in 2013 to protect Europeans and businesses against mounting cyber-threats.

The results of this Eurobarometer on cybercrime also show that, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, it is not surprising that security of personal information and online payments top the list of our concerns. What is more surprising is that only half of Europeans take effective measures to protect themselves from cybercrime.

In addition to the proposal for a European Cybercrime Centre, in September 2010, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive to deal with new cyber-crimes, such as large-scale cyber-attacks. It sets out concrete measures; including criminalising the creation and selling of malicious software and improving European police cooperation.