Are You Diseased?
This is really kinda scary...
From
Enterprise IT Planet.com:
Home Users Flunk Web Security October 25, 2004 By Enterprise IT Planet StaffAs part of a month long effort to highlight the dangers of online threats, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and America Online (AOL) released survey results that paint a bleak picture of the home PC security landscape.
In most corporations, users are typically shielded from malware and data thieves thanks to the diligence of their IT departments. At home, however, PC users are playing it fast and loose, according to their survey, causing concern for businesses whose employees like to take some work with them.
The NCSA/AOL In-Home Study results speak for themselves:
Among the 329 dial-up and broadband users surveyed, 77 percent felt fairly confident that they could withstand the threats the Internet has in store for them. Yet, nearly half of all broadband users (49 percent) didn't have the protection of a firewall. Over half, 53 percent, didn't know what a firewall was.
A vast majority, 80 percent, was infected with some form of Spyware or Adware. Of those, 88 percent weren't even aware that their PCs were infected. AOL and NCSA found that the average user had 93 spyware/adware components. One unlucky user had a whopping 1,059.
The survey also found that 20 percent of home computers were infected with a virus. Of those with anti-virus protection (85 percent), 67 percent did not update it regularly. 15 percent did not have any anti-virus protection to speak of.
On the Wi-Fi front, 38 percent left their networks completely open.
The study underscores how large numbers of home users are taking too few precautions on the Internet, especially in light of the sensitive data their PCs contain.
NCSA and AOL found that 84 percent of respondents kept private data on their PCs (financial statements, health records) while 72 percent did their banking or viewed personal medical info online.
In a statement, Ken Watson, Chairman of the National Cyber Security Alliance, said, "For the first time, weve 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 behavior."
Watson adds, "Extrapolating the percentages in our survey, this indicates that millions of Americans are at risk — and are already infected — by viruses, spyware, and adware."
