Computer security and safety advocates are gathering Tuesday to promote Internet safety in Seattle. Didn't you know that October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month? Be careful out there. The event is at the Seattle Public Library downtown beginning at 10 a.m.

To draw attention to the shindig, which will include Microsoft and Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, the National Cyber Security Alliance released a survey of attitudes toward online safety nationally and in select cities, including Seattle. Security software vendor McAfee teamed with the NCSA on the study, so take it with a grain of salt.

Some interesting findings from the Seattle survey, which polled roughly 200 people, ages 18 to 49, online:

-- 22 percent of respondents or someone close to them were victims of an Internet crime or identity theft in the past 12 months.

-- More people (42 percent) are concerned about Internet crime, such as identity theft, than physical crime, such as robbery or stabbing (29 percent).

-- Time spent online in an average day:

3 hours or more 51%
1 hour to up to 2 hours 21%
2 hours to up to 3 hours 17%
30-59 minutes 8%

-- Computers in the home:

1 computer 37%
2 computers 35%
3 computers 15%
4 computers 4%
5 or more computers 8%
I do not have a computer in my home 2%

-- Not surprisingly, most of us think we're either "intermediate" (54 percent) or "advanced" (10 percent) when it comes to knowledge about cybersecurity. About 36 percent described their knowledge as "beginner."