Online Security Concerns Nips $2 Billion in Sales

Gartner Group Inc. estimates nearly $2 billion in would-be consumer e-commerce sales will be lost in 2006 due to online security concerns.

According to survey findings released by Gartner, online shoppers will forsake $913 million in transactions this year, while another $1 billion worth of sales will be lost among consumers who refuse to shop online period, due to security concerns.

Forty-six percent of adults surveyed said concerns about information theft and Internet-based attacks have affected their behavior with respect to making purchases and payments online.

Some 85% of consumers concerned about security routinely delete e-mail without opening it if they’re not familiar with the company or individual that sent it, according to Gartner’s findings.