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81% Of Home Computers Lack Key Protections
John Stith
Staff Writer
2005-12-08
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The second annual report, published by AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance, called the Online Safety Study found some alarming numbers regarding home computer security. Phishing scams raid home PCs regularly and many receive the phishing emails thought they were from legitimate companies.
 | | Many Home Computers Unsafe |  |
More than two-thirds of consumers who've received the scam emails said they thought the emails were legitimate. This puts those home computer users at a very high risk of losing sensitive, personal information to identity thieves or criminals.
The study sent experts to homes to examine personal computers for known security risks and threats. The numbers weren't good. One in five respondents said they had a friend or family member who had already been hit by identity fraud scams. Only 42% said they even knew of the term "phishing" and only 57% of those folks could explain it. Yet one in four Americans are affected by phishing scams.
The way the scam works is people receive emails that often look quite legitimate. It usually looks like it comes from a financial institution. Bank of America is a popular one although any bank is possible. Also companies like eBay or their subsidiary PayPal also get a lot of traction. They say they need to "update" your information or some other nonsense and they provide a link. That link provides all the info they need to play your finances.
"Phishers are getting better at tricking consumers into revealing their bank account and financial information, and most Americans can't tell the difference between real e-mails and the growing flood of scams that lead to fraud and identity theft." said Tatiana Platt, Senior Vice President and Chief Trust Officer for AOL.
"Consumers need to be aware of the risk, and they need to use critical protections like anti-virus software, spyware protection, and a firewall to help protect them from online threats."
Perhaps the worst news was finding that 81% of home PCs lack at least one the three critical protections - updated computer virus software, spyware protection and a secure firewall - all necessary to help guard against the evils hackers do. These include guarding against viruses, spyware, hackers and other threats. The study said more than half (56%) lacked anti-virus protection or had not updated it within the last week, almost half (44%) did not have a properly configured firewall, and four in ten (38%) lacked spyware protection. They said despite these findings, most of the users (83%) believe they were safe from online threats.
"There is a major perception gap: Even though most consumers think they are protected, this study shows the opposite. Far too many people still lack the three fundamental protections they need to stay safe online - current anti-virus software, spyware protection, and a secure firewall," Ron Teixeira, executive director, National Cyber Security Alliance.
"As we move into a broadband world, where consumers have an always-on connection to the Internet, these core protections are even more vital. This is particularly troubling, given that more than two-thirds of those surveyed say they keep sensitive information on their PCs."
These findings come as consumers get ready to spend billions over the Internet this holiday season. According to Jupiter Research, online shopping is expected to top $26 billion for the year (an 18% increase over 2004), with millions of consumers putting financial and personal information online.
Some other interesting points to note included half of wireless customer lack even basic protections. Two few of them are properly set up to keep out intruders. The study said more than one in four homes had a wireless network and almost half of those homes failed to encrypt their connection, a safety precaution needed to protect wireless networks from outside intruders.
"Although we have made some strides in helping consumers protect themselves, the threats are growing broader and more dangerous, so the risk of failure can be that much more catastrophic," said Platt. "When a single virus, a simple scam or hidden spyware program can shut down your computer or cause a person to lose their bank account, their family pictures, or all of their personal records, it is vital that consumers take every possible step to protect themselves. You can't lock just a few of the windows in your house and expect to stay safe from thieves."
Other key findings included:
· Three-quarters (74%) of respondents use their computers for sensitive transactions such as banking, stock trading, or reviewing personal medical information.
· More than two-thirds (68%) keep sensitive information on their home computers like personal correspondence, resumes or professional records, or health or financial information.
· More than half (55%) say they have been infected by a virus in the past.
· The percent of computers with an active file-sharing program fell by more than half from 23% to 11%.
· Homes with children were more likely to have spyware or adware on the computer. More than two-thirds (69%) of homes with children under age 18 had spyware/adware, vs. 58% of households without kids.
· Seven in ten (70%) users now say that they use a pop-up blocker (vs. 47% last year)
They discuss a lot of data in this study but one thing is imminently clear, people aren't protecting their home PCs. Many are, but not nearly enough. This leaves many open to a variety of attacks. Keep in mind also, this study doesn't even cover government or business computers, which also have a history of being cracked. Those that know what they're doing can get into those and have before. It's obvious cyber crime isn't just a matter of inability to beat them, it's a question of getting the information out to the consumers to make sure they're protected.
About the Author:
John is a staff writer for SecurityProNews covering cyber security.
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