Lies, damn lies, and statistics

The latest Pew Internet and American Life Project study contains this nifty little statistic:

• 81% of internet users say they have stopped opening email attachments unless they are sure these documents are safe.

Um, yeah. I think a more accurate statistic would go something like this:

• 70% of internet users now know not to admit opening unsafe email attachments.


• 10% of internet users have stopped opening email attachments unless they are sure these attachments are safe; however, their definition of safe is probably a little wonky.


• 1% of internet have truly stopped opening unsafe email attachments.

Also, left out of the report was this statistic:

• 89% of internet users report clicking willingly and often on anything containing the words "naked" or "free."