Hackers were the main threat to e-business for 45 per cent of the 148 respondents to the CBI's Cybercrime Survey. A quarter said that former and current employees also posed a security risk, with particular concern in the technology, telecommunications and consultancy sectors.

However, e-business fraud itself was less of a concern than loss of reputation because of adverse publicity of being a victim of cyber-crime.

The CBI urged companies to ensure their exposure to e-commerce fraud did not increase.