By Colin Barker, 19 August 2005 09:25
NEWS Some 11 per cent of the British population are convinced that spyware is "a gadget from Star Wars", according to research published on Thursday.
The survey, carried out by NOP and commissioned by security company Blue Coat, appears to highlight a lack of concern in the UK market about spyware, with more than half of those surveyed unaware that spyware is software on a user's computer that tracks their behaviour and reports it back to a third party.
While 33 per cent of adults are concerned about viruses, according to the survey, only eight per cent show any concern for spyware. A third (30 per cent) of adults said they used a spyware checker every day but that percentage drops to only 16 per cent of adults when using their computer for personal use.
The survey highlights an issue that is now of grave concern to companies, including Microsoft which last month enhanced its anti-spyware software. Spyware, which was once considered merely irritating, is now seen as a threat because the innocuous pop-ups that are typical of both adware and spyware can shield viruses and worse.
Nigel Hawthorn, vice president of marketing for Blue Coat, said: "Clearly this is a huge problem for the enterprise."
"Spyware and the nature in which it attacks should be viewed as the smiling assassin. Enterprises should face up to the problem, educate their users and take the spyware threat very seriously indeed."
Colin Barker writes for ZDNet UK
Comments
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1. anonymous
What is the difference between spyware and adware other than, supposedly, the motivation of the person who put it there?
If the majority of users understood what spyware was and how to block it would most current Internet marketing operations collapse?
2. Vigfus
Adware is something you agree to let you show adverts to you in excange for software or whatever. Spyware tracks you without you agreeing to it.
3. anonymous
Besides adware and spyware, internet surfers beware.
I've had some unpleasant experiences with popunders.
I have found that particular sites have discovered, how to load desk top icons on sub-accounts of your home p/c, and in essence, impacting every sub-account on your home computer.
These popunders can't be dragged to your garbage can. I have found that they can only be right clicked to access the delete icon.
They maybe gone for the moment, but are sure to re-appear within a 12 hour period, after the computer is either shut off, or logged off.
4. anonymous
To tell the truth - Spyware & etc. are written by SO-Called Hackers, then others who may as well be those same Hackers, with the original gang & sell your firms & individuals the Pills- Virus Killers to fix the many collection information Hackers.
P.S.
Sounds a whole like like - BIG- BROTHER.