Work - WAH Business Archive 06-07

Bad habits die hard for Brits online

05 Feb 2007

Bad habits die hard for Brits online

Leading software security company PC Tools has issued an online ID theft warning after witnessing a rise in recorded virus and spyware threats through its Malware Research Centre.

Figures for malware activity in January have revealed that the expected post-Christmas downturn has not materialised. Instead, the threat level has increased throughout the month supporting the Information Commissioner?s Office (ICO) claims that the threat to UK identities has never been greater.

The ICO blames a mix of poor personal document management and a lack of online awareness, with a shocking 35% of Britons making an online debit or credit transaction without checking the security of the site and 88% using an email link to access a site.

According to statistics from PC Tools? Malware Research Centre, malware activity, particularly from China and Russia, has increased by over 50% and is feeding off consumers? ignorance of how they can be lured to phishing sites or how spyware can hide in the system and capture login and password details.

"The 41% leap we recorded in malware activity over the Christmas period and continue to see throughout January is a good indicator that the ID thieves are alive and well and hammering at the consumer?s IT door with everything they?ve got," said Mike Green, vice president product strategy at PC Tools. "With online banking now outstripping phone banking for the first time in the UK, according to APACs, the risk to consumers is growing everyday. So it?s no surprise that the ICO is concerned."

Unbelievably, despite the rise in online fraud, there is still confusion and much complacency among consumer IT users about the level of security they need, to ensure they are safe from online predators. Installing one or two bits of security software is simply not enough.

"It?s irresponsible to think it will never happen to you. Internet users have to protect themselves and maintain that protection through regular anti-virus and anti-spyware updates," added Greene. "It?s also important to activate a firewall. If you don?t it?s like pinning your bank details to a lamp post and hoping no one will stop and read them."

PC Tools offers a free AntiVirus and a free Personal Firewall; both can be downloaded at www.pctools.com

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