Is your computer infected?

We recently wrote optimistically that companies put in place tools to make surfing on the Internet safer from viruses or spam. May be we were too optimistic. A new study commissioned by AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance suggests that home computers are very, very unprotected. The study found that users do know about the threats but that their computers have installed antivirus software – probably because it has been preinstalled at purchase – but not frequently enough updated. Imagine those numbers from the study:

One poor victim had 92 viruses on their PC, and another an incredible 1,059 spyware/adware progies.

Two thirds of users had no firewall or packet filter, and 14 per cent of those who had them had misconfigured them. And only nine per cent had any sort of parental controls in place.
Conclusion can only be that something just doesn’t tick well with the users, especially considering the fact that almost three quarters of those surveyed reported believing that their PC is very secure or moderately secure. There are enough campaigns that show the threat from the Internet regarding virusses, spyware, and the need to upgrade your protection and have a firewall. The study doesn’t indicate why there is this big gap behind the belief that you are protected and the brutal reality that you are not, and this would be an interesting to know fact.

(by http://www.asiabusinessconsulting.com)