As identity theft has grown, so has fear of being victimized through high-tech means.

Nearly a third of Internet users are cutting back on time spent surfing the Internet and a quarter say they have stopped buying online altogether, according to a study from Consumer Reports WebWatch.

Some 80 percent of Internet users say they are at least somewhat concerned someone could steal their identity from personal information on the Internet. Fifty-three percent of Internet users say they have stopped giving out personal information on the Web.

This is a genuine concern for those spending time online but it also raises issues for online marketers…An education process I believe will become very necessary in the not to distant future to reassure online purchasers that their information is safe…

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