Cyber crime is at an all time high but online users are still unaware of how to protect themselves and their online identities. In an effort to support the National Cyber Security Awareness Week, PayPal Australia and Pure Profile have joined forces to warn Australians not to share their private details online.

A survey by Pure Profile shows that "despite 75 per cent of Australians surveyed being concerned about the information they share online, almost 50 per cent admit to not knowing how many websites hold their personal details". The survey, which was commissioned by PayPal, discovered that those Australians who don't know where their information is stored online also have their personal details stored across more than five other accounts. Australians have also been sharing their personal information from newsletters and online shopping sites to real estate websites.

Just in case this report wasn't troubling enough PayPal also stated that losses reported to the ACCC from cyber crime totaled more than $63 million in 2010.

According to ITWire PayPal has some advice for Australians to help them share their information online. Users should always think twice about entering details online. Research the company that you are trusting your online information. Are they a legitimate business?

Users shouldn't use the same password on multiple sites and change your passwords every few months. Always understand the terms and conditions on each site before entering your private details. Always use trusted sites and platforms when making online transactions. Review where your details are held online and remove anything that is not necessary. Beware of phising emails and don't just click any links in emails to log into your online accounts. If you don't trust the link, open a new browser and type in the URL of the company's website and then enter your personal information.

National Cyber Security Awareness week runs from May 30 to June 3.