ONLY 38 per cent of Cypriots have used the internet in the past three months, the fourth lowest figure in the EU27.
Additionally, only ten per cent shopped online, with another 19 per cent saying they were victims of a computer virus.
The figures were released by the European Commission ahead of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday.
The day is part of a global drive to promote a safer internet for all users, in particular younger people, and is organised by Insafe, a European internet safety network co-funded by the EC.
In Cyprus, CyberEthics, Cyprus Safer Internet Awareness Node and Microsoft yesterday held an event in Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square, where a techno-tent was set up to help children learn about internet safety through specialised games. At the same time, parents were given the opportunity to learn how to protect their children from online dangers.
Also present were Future Worlds Centre, the Police Cyber Crime Unit and the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority.
According to the organisers: “The European Union has developed specialised projects for youth awareness and the general public on how to use the internet safely and the ways available to protect yourself from dangers.”
CyberEthics works under the Neuroscience and Technology Institute in collaboration with the University of Cyprus (Department of Social and Political Science), the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, the Family Planning Association and the Olive Branch Foundation.
“The awareness node aims to inform educators, parents, children and the general public about the dangers of the internet and how one can surf safely,” the organisers added.
In addition to the awareness campaign, a special hotline has been created (22-873820), whose main role is to provide a contact point for users who want the removal of illegal content by criminal prosecution.
The percentage of individuals aged 16 to 74 in the EU27 who ordered goods or services over the internet increased from 24 per cent in 2005 to 30 per cent in 2007. The highest proportion of internet shoppers was recorded in Denmark (55 per cent), followed by the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The lowest figures (three per cent) were found in Bulgaria and Romania.
In 2006, 12 per cent of individuals had not ordered goods or services over the internet in the preceding 12 months due to worries about giving credit card or personal details online. These concerns were most common in Spain (27 per cent), Finland (26 per cent) and Cyprus (20 per cent).
Overall, the number of people who had used the internet in the last three months increased from 52 per cent in 2006 to 57 per cent in 2007.
Regarding viruses, nearly a quarter of users had been victims in the preceding 12 months, which resulted in a loss of information or time.
One way of protecting oneself against the loss of information is regularly to make a safety copy or a back up file.
