UK consumers apathetic about online security says survey Security vendor, PC Tools has released the findings from a worldwide survey of more than 25,000 respondents of which 4,412 were from the UK. Results revealed that despite customers having a high level of awareness regarding online security and the requisite computer security products, consumers are demonstrating widespread indifference to other preventative measures. This result comes despite an overwhelming number of respondents reporting that their computer had been infected by a malicious threat. UK consumers surveyed were aware of the security threats posed by social networking sites, emails and downloads such as viruses, spyware, malware, spam, firewalls and trojans, for example. Yet an alarming 50% of UK consumers surveyed indicated that they continue to download and file share regardless of the known risks, despite the fact that 80% of respondents had reported that their computer had been infected by malicious threats. “The fact PC Tools’ website visitors - who are at least aware and in most cases well informed of the risks - are unconcerned s suggests that we can expect a significantly greater problem among the general public, exposing consumers to financial loss and identity theft,” said Simon Clausen, Chief Executive Officer, PC Tools. “This research has confirmed our belief that the industry must approach computer security and cyber crime from an educational perspective. Unfortunately, it’s not so simple - consumers need to want to be educated. All too often it takes an incidence of an attack involving identity theft or monetary loss for it to affect real behavioural change,” said Clausen. PC Tools warns that, if users insist on file sharing or other risky online activities, it is critical that they deploy real time behavioural-based protection, such as Spyware Doctor, or the free ThreatFire Key Findings: The following research confirms PC Tools’ UK website visitors have a high level of awareness about computer security: • Only 8% of UK respondents were unaware of the associated risks of downloading and file sharing • 92% of UK respondents understand the term computer virus • 87% of UK respondents understand the term spyware • 71% of UK respondents have both anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on their computers • 88% of UK respondents are confident that their computers are protected but 50% still engage in file sharing through downloads and social networking sites • 50% of UK respondents scan their computers for spyware and viruses weekly, while 38% do so daily • 72% of UK respondents have real-time blocking protection Methodology: This survey was conducted online by PC Tools’ newsletter subscribers between September 2007 and November 2007. 25,506 people responded worldwide, with 4,412 UK respondents. Contingencies: This survey was a customer-based survey so may not be reflective of the Australian public as a whole. We could expect that PC Tool’s customers are likely to have much greater knowledge about emerging threats and security protection. Finalists announced in the 2007 e-Government National Awards 81 finalists (detailed at this link) have been chosen from among the record 527 nominations received in this year's e-Government National Awards 2007. 11 Awards categories will recognise this year's "best of the best" strategies, achievements, teams and individuals in UK public sector web, ICT & e-Government services. The judging panel was headed by Government Chief Information Officer John Suffolk (based at Cabinet Office). The winners will be announced and presented with their e-Government National Awards on 22nd January 2008 at a black-tie dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London. Finalists may book tickets at this link Platinum sponsor is KPMG. Also a sponsor is O2. The Awards are supported by the Government Chief Information Officer (Cabinet Office), the Office of Government Commerce, the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm), and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers). This article comes from PublicTechnology.net http://www.publictechnology.net/ The URL for this story is: http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=13081