NetApp alarmed at web users' online openness

End users will willingly swap personal information online, despite real-life caginess, says poll

NetApp research highlights web users flippancy to sharing information online

Storage vendor NetApp has blasted web users and their willingness to divulge personal information online.

According to a recent NetApp poll involving 3,000 UK adults, 86 per cent said they would never share their PIN number with someone they know, despite willingly sharing other personal details with their friends via social networking sites.

Two-thirds of those questioned said they would happily list their date of birth online, while one in 20 admitted listing details of their home address.

Paul Wooding, head of UK public sector for NetApp, said: "It is really alarming that people have so much confidential information like a home address available on their Facebook profile.

“As soon as you update your profile saying you are off on holiday, all your hundreds of friends - and now potentially anyone searching on Google - will know your home is empty for the next few weeks.”