Consumer Reports on badware's financial impact

From StopBadware.org...

Our friends at Consumer Reports* have released a report on the financial impact of online threats, showing that US consumers have lost more than $7 billion in the last two years to threats like viruses, spyware and phishing.

The 2007 “State of the Net” report found that 34 percent of its surveyed subjects had a computer explosed to spyware in the past six months alone.

Consumer Reports also offered some quick tips for consumers:

* Activating protection. Consumers should turn on their operating system’s firewall, spam blocker, or other built-in security application if it has one. Also activate spam filtering and other online protection provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or e-mail service.

* Shutting down. Turning off the computer when not using it for long periods (or at least disconnecting the Internet cable) can reduce the chance that a malicious remote computer will access it.

* Using public computers with care. Consumers should not conduct financial or other personal business on computers at libraries, hotels, or airports. The same goes for using a personal computer on a public wireless network.

* Considering Mac. Although Mac owners face the same problems with spam and phishing as Windows users, they have far less to fear from viruses and spyware. Because Macs are less prevalent than Windows-based machines, online criminals get less of a return on their investment when targeting them.

* Watching downloads. The myriad of free utilities, games, and other software on the Internet can be useful, but many are laden with viruses and spyware. Stick to downloads from well-known manufacturers or trusted sites.

You can read the report, plus additional web security information including reviews of security software, in Consumer Reports’ September issue.

* Note: Consumer Reports WebWatch serves as an unpaid special advisor to StopBadware.