[ISN] Survey: Most home PC users lack security

[InfoSec News]

http://news.com.com/Survey+Most+home+PC+users+lack+security/2100-1029_3-5986344.html

By Dawn Kawamoto 
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
December 7, 2005

A survey of home PC users found 81 percent lacked at least one of 
three critical types of security, but the number of consumers using 
firewalls and updated antivirus software is improving, according to a 
report released Wednesday. 

The vast majority of consumers surveyed were found to lack at least 
one of three types of critical security--a firewall, updated antivirus 
software or anti-spyware protection, according to a report by America 
Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance. 

Of this group, 56 percent had no antivirus software, or had not 
updated it within a week, while 44 percent did not have a firewall 
properly configured, according to the report. Meanwhile, 38 percent of 
survey respondents lacked spyware protection. 

"Even though most consumers think they are protected, this study shows 
the opposite," Ron Teixeira, National Cyber Security Alliance 
executive director, said in a statement. "Far too many people still 
lack the three fundamental protections they need to stay safe online." 

Nonetheless, some improvements have been made. The number of homes 
with properly configured firewall protections rose to 56 percent from 
28 percent a year ago. 

The improvements were attributed to the default firewall that is 
installed with Windows XP Service Pack 2, according to the survey. 

The percentage of home PC users with recently updated antivirus 
software on their computers rose to 44 percent this year, compared 
with 33 percent a year ago. And, the number of PCs with spyware and 
adware loaded onto their systems fell to 61 percent this year from 80 
percent last year. 

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