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.
