Continued Losses Due to Viruses and Spyware

These figures are just mind boggling – and they have come down over the last two years as well!  No wonder there is such a market for spyware programs, firewalls and anti-virus programs. 

US consumers lost almost $8.5 bln over the last two years to viruses, spyware, and phishing schemes. Consumer Reports estimates that American consumers have replaced about 2.1 mln computers over the past two years because of online threats. Consumers have 1 in 6 chance of becoming a cybervictim, down from 1 in 4 in 2007. Spyware and virus infections have also declined significantly over the past few years.

Most telling stat for me – 3.5 million households with broadband do not use any type of firewall. Wow.

Source: $8.5 bln lost to viruses and spyware in 2006-2007 – ZDNet

Try out one of the best free offerings on the net – AVG Free.  It provides basic protection but is better than nothing at all.

Related Posts

• False Indication of No Spyware Protection Installed with Windows 7 and Windows Home Server
• Using Microsoft’s New Online Safety Scanner
• How Fast Is Your Internet?
• Comcast Constant Guard Goes Nationwide
• Turn Your Smartphone into a Broadband Modem

Richard Hay  (3358 Posts)

Richard is the Owner of WindowsObserver.com and has been involved in tech for over 25 years. His first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then he used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and what you see here today is the result of the work he has continued on the site since 1995. In January 2010 his community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when he was awarded the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for Windows Desktop Experience. In January 2011 he was renewed as a Microsoft MVP but in a new category called Windows Expert - Consumer and in January 2012 he received the award for the third time.