A British security company recently surveyed 300,000 PCs and found that about 16%, or one in six, had some active spyware or malware installed.
This could include keyloggers, which record your every keystroke, and other programs that look for passwords and credit card numbers.
Worst of all, perhaps, it could also include fake antispyware software, leading users to think they are protected when in fact they are in more danger.
These types of malware programs are hitting the Internet at a rate of up to 10,000 a day, says the company.
Of those 300,000 computers checked, some, incredibly, had no security programs at all. Naturally, they had much higher rates of infection than other PCs that were partially or fully protected.
About 60% of businesses that scan their computers for malware, find at least one infected machine on their premises.
Keep all your security software up to date, and run your scans on a regular schedule. Use common sense, do not open spam, and you will be fine.
Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here: => http://mypcsecuritysite.com/
You may include these Tips in your web sites and publications provided they remain unchanged and include the above paragraph, with the author’s name and web site.
