Firms dig deep to fight spyware

2005-08-03 13:14

Palo Alto, California - Corporations spend more than $130 000 a month in resources fighting spyware, and taking security measures is no guarantee of being protected, according to a recent survey.

Over 75% of information technology managers participating in the study said that despite installing anti-virus software, filters and intrusion detection products, they experienced a virus or spyware attack at least once in the past six months.

In addition, 87% of computer users said attacks had affected their systems, leading to slower network performance, slower personal computers, uncontrollable bursts of pop-up ads, or other problems, according to the survey from privately-held FaceTime Communciations and NewDiligence, a San Francisco market researcher.

The survey, conducted in June and July, contacted more than 600 information technology managers and more than 500 business computer users.

The companies varied in size from less than 500 employees to more than 5 000 and were located in North America and Europe.

The survey found that spyware infections are growing at slightly more than twice the rate of computer virus infections.

The survey broadly defines spyware as programmes that unknowningly install themselves on computers to track a user's online behaviour or deliver a malicious payload.

To combat the epidemic, companies chalk up extra costs on computer help desks and to get machines clean of the unwanted programs.

The study also found that 78% of users have installed programs such as instant messaging or peer-to-peer music download software on their machines. Often these programs serve as avenues for spyware.

The spread of these programs should increase to 93% of users in the next six months, the survey found.

- Dow Jones