Online Security Questionnaire

[Eric Gerlitz <eric -dot- gerlitz -at- MANKATO -dot- MSUS -dot- EDU>]

Greetings all.  I am currently working on a pilot study in perceptions of
online (Internet) security and am surveying technical communicators to
assess which topics should be covered. I would greatly appreciate your
feedback by completing the survey below and returning it to:
eric -dot- gerlitz -at- mankato -dot- msus -dot- edu -dot-   It doesn't matter what level you feel your
computer and/or Internet skills are - everyone is invited to participate.

Thank you for your time!  I appreciate it.

                        - Eric Gerlitz


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Perceptions of Online Security Survey
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Purpose:
This questionnaire will be used to assess technical writer's perceptions of
online security on the Internet.  This questionnaire is not a test of your
computer knowledge, but an assessment of which online security concerns
should be addressed in the technical communications community - you will be
assisting me in focusing the topics for discussion in a pilot study.
Please follow the directions for each question.  Please feel free to
provide any additional comments on any of the questions. Thank you.

(please e-mail this completed survey to eric -dot- gerlitz -at- mankato -dot- msus -dot- edu)

**NOTE: The results of this survey are kept strictly confidential and used
only to assess the perceptions of online security.  This survey is
voluntary and you may chose to withdraw your participation at any time.**


CHOOSE ONE which best describes you:

        _____ Professional in technical writing field
        _____ Professional in another field,
                Please specify what field: ___________________________________________
        _____ Teacher/Professor
        _____ Student
        _____ Other,
                Please specify: ____________________________________________________


For each question, select ONE answer:

1). How often do you use the internet?
        _____ Frequently
        _____ Occasionally
        _____ Rarely
        _____ I've only used the Internet a few times
        _____ I've never used the Internet


2). How safe do you feel the Internet is?  Please rate on a scale from 1-5:
        (1 being not safe at ALL and 5 being completely safe)

                1       2       3       4       5


3). What is your most used source of information about online security issues?
        _____ The media - newspapers, magazines, radio, T.V., the web, etc.
        _____ Word of mouth (friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.)
        _____ E-mail warnings
        _____ Computer professionals
        _____ Technical communication professionals
        _____ Own knowledge and experience
        _____ Other, specify: _______________________________________________


4). Rate your level of concern with online security and privacy:

        _____ I'm very worried about security/privacy
        _____ I'm fairly concerned about security/privacy.
        _____ I'm somewhat concerned about security/privacy
        _____ I'm not worried about my security/privacy at all


5). Do you think it is possible to get a computer virus from reading an
e-mail?
        _____ YES       _____ NO        _____ Not Sure


6). Do you think it is possible to get a computer virus from browsing
websites?
        _____ YES       _____ NO        _____ Not Sure


7). How "anonymous" do you feel you are while using the Internet (such as
browsing the web)?
        _____ Completely anonymous
        _____ Mostly anonymous
        _____ Somewhat anonymous
        _____ Not anonymous at all


8). What is your opinion of Internet "Cookies"?

        _____ I don't know anything about Cookies / never heard the term
        _____ I've heard the term, but don't know enough about them
        _____ Cookies do more harm than good
        _____ Cookies do more good than harm
        _____ Cookies can be good or bad, depending on the application


9). Have you ever bought anything off the Internet?

        _____ YES

                If YES- were you worried about your personal information (credit card
numbers,
                        social security number, address, etc.) being stolen?

                        _____ yes, very concerned
                        _____ yes, somewhat concerned
                        _____ no, not concerned

                        Will you buy off the Internet again?

                        _____ yes, most likely
                        _____ no, not likely
                        _____ not sure


        _____ NO

                If NO- why not?
                        _____ It isn't safe to buy
                        _____ It's somewhat safe, but I don't trust it completely
                        _____ Not interested in buying anything from the web
                        _____ Other.  Please specify:
_____________________________________________________


10). Do you or your company have a website?

        _____ YES
                If YES- how secure do you feel the website is?
                        _____ Perfectly safe / no danger
                        _____ Mostly safe
                        _____ Somewhat safe
                        _____ Not safe at all
                        _____ Not sure

        _____ NO




** -= THANK YOU! -= **
(please e-mail this completed survey to eric -dot- gerlitz -at- mankato -dot- msus -dot- edu)