Survey Urges High Alert

SAN DIEGO -- According to a recent survey sponsored by ESET, a global provider of security software for enterprises and consumers, and conducted by Harris Interactive®, homeland computer security should be on high alert. The vast majority of U.S. adult computer users (88%) have an antivirus program installed on their personal computer, but about two in three (65%) have postponed updating their antivirus program, thus leaving them unprotected from the growing maliciousness of today's online threats. The survey provides a look at the vast naiveté and complacency of today's computer users with regard to online security.

While about one in five computer users (19%) estimate that there are 10,000 unique forms of malware discovered daily, the study suggests that they just don't seem to care. In fact, 65 percent of those who have an antivirus program on their computer have postponed updating it, and 42 percent have been affected by malware when they had an antivirus program on their computer. ESET's threat lab data indicates that on average there is upwards of 10,000 unique forms of malware globally each day, putting consumers at serious risk from viruses, spyware, keyloggers, Trojans, phishing attacks and other criminally motivated online threats. Yet, a majority of computer users with an antivirus program on their machine are not vigilant about updating the antivirus solution they use.

"Overall, the research shows that many consumers have a false sense of security while online," said Andrew Lee, chief research officer at ESET. "With the number of zero-day threats rapidly increasing, users need to be even more cautious and proactive in their own protection."

Harris Interactive Inc.