This week’s AOTA conference was a meeting of minds for online marketers who specialize in security and online trust. As consumers get more tools in their hands to create and communicate on the Web, so too do the bad guys.
And the main consensus at the show is that there are a lot of bad guys out there. But still more good guys, which is where the industry meetings come in. The industry is doing a lot to work together to police these issues. And while it is a dangerous world, technology can help. Michael Barrett, chief information security officer at PayPal, equated these products to the seat belt. They don’t save every life, but they sure do help a lot.
One of the big issue that has really been discussed at this show is consumer education. If consumers knew that the IRS does not send e-mail, then they wouldn’t be opening e-mails from spammers dressed up in sheep’s clothing. (Especially those people excited about getting their stimulus checks). But the industry is starting to get involved. MySpace, Craigslist, eBay and PayPal are all actively trying to educate consumers in a move to build trust and safety online. Be it through technology, education and working with law enforcement, the Internet can still be a very safe place.
