When it comes to online security, men are less savvy than women, according to PC Tools.

Research by the security firm revealed that 47 percent of men use the same passwords when signing up to online banking and shopping facilities, compared to just 26 percent of women.

Men have a more cavalier attitude to e-mail attachments, with 60 percent admitting to opening them immediately without checking to see if they are legitimate, but only 48 percent of women do the same thing.

However, PC Tools said that 85 percent of men understood the different types of security threats such as dodgy email attachments, website attacks or social networking scams. Nearly half of all women didn't know social networks can pose threats.

Unfortunately, only 20 percent of men set their security software to automatically update, compared to twice as many women. And when it comes to threat alerts, 30 percent of men admitted they ignore warnings as they find them "annoying".

PC Tools advises Web users to become more savvy about online threats and the potential risks they face when using the internet.

"This research clearly sends out alarm bells to men in particular, who have seemingly become quite complacent about online security. If consumers use both common sense and behaviour-based protection next to their existing anti-virus when surfing online; they will be in a much better position to safeguard their financial and personal information," said Dr Michael Greene, vice president, PC Tools.

The security firm also has an online quiz, which will help web users identify how security savvy they are: http://www.pctools.com/askdrgreene/

(PCW)