Most PCs have fallen victim to spyware
Most PCs have fallen victim to spyware
A study carried out by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance has discovered that 80 percent of 329 inspected computers have been infected with spyware without the user knowing.
The survey has discovered that most consumers do not use basic protections such as anti-virus, spyware and firewall software, which means that their personal and financial information is left at risk.
The safety study has revealed that 77 percent of users think they are safe from online threats but 67 percent of computers lack current anti-virus software and 88 percent did not know they were infected with spyware/adware. In addition, 49 percent of broadband users lack any firewall protection.
Ken Watson, the chairman of the National Cyber Security Alliance said: "For the first time, we've reviewed the actual security protections that consumers use for the sensitive information they keep on their home computers, and the results validate our purpose - to raise awareness and change behaviour.
"Extrapolating the percentages in our survey, this indicates that millions of Americans are at risk - and are already infected - by viruses, spyware, and adware. With October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month, now is the perfect time for every American to review the protections they have and make sure those protections are up-to-date and complete."
Tatiana Gau, AOL's chief trust officer and senior vice president for integrity assurance added: "No consumer would walk down the street waving a stack of cash or leave their wallet sitting in a public place, but far too many are doing the exact same thing online. Without basic protections like anti-virus, spyware protection and a firewall, consumers are leaving their personal and financial information at risk. Now that we know the scope of the problem, we can redouble our efforts to educate consumers about the solutions to staying safe online."
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