AdamKB @ AOL.COM - Weblog

Monday, October 25, 2004
AOL has conducted a survey on its members security perceptions vs. reality, and the results show a somewhat alarming lack of understanding of the problems we currently face.

http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/press_view.cfm?release_num=55254239

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25, 2004 - The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership focused on driving awareness and promoting education of cyber security, and NCSA member America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today released the results of one of the largest and most comprehensive in-home studies ever conducted on the security of computer users.

The AOL/NCSA Online Safety Study - conducted by technical experts in the homes of 329 typical dial-up and broadband computer users - found that most computer users think they are safe but lack basic protections against viruses, spyware, hackers, and other online threats. In addition, large majorities of home computer users have been infected with viruses and spyware and remain highly vulnerable to future infections. Yet at the same time, most keep sensitive personal and financial information on their computers.

Among the key findings:

PERCEPTION GAP: The large majority of users falsely believe that they are safe from online threats.
- More than three quarters (77 percent) said they think their computer is very or somewhat safe from online threats.
- Almost the same percent (73 percent) said they think their computer is very or somewhat safe from viruses.
- Three in five (60 percent) said they feel very or somewhat safe from hackers.

VIRUSES: Yet most computer users do not have updated anti-virus protection on their computers and either have been or are currently infected by viruses:
- Two-thirds of users (67 percent) do not have current anti-virus software (updated within last week).
- One in seven users (15 percent) has no anti-virus software at all on their computer.
- Almost two-thirds of respondents (63 percent) said they have been the past victim of a virus infection.
- One in five users (19 percent) has at least one virus infection currently on their home computer.

SPYWARE: Spyware and adware infections were endemic but almost completely unknown to users.
- Four in five users (80 percent) have spyware or adware programs on their computer.
- The average infected user has 93 spyware/adware components on their computer, and the most components found on a single computer during the scan was 1,059.
- An overwhelming majority of users (89 percent) who were infected with spyware/adware said they didn't know the programs were on their computer.
- Nine in ten infected users (90 percent) said they don't know what the programs are or do.
- Almost all of the infected users (95 percent) said they never gave permission for the programs to be installed.
- All but a handful of infected users (86 percent) asked the technicians doing the study to remove the programs.

FIREWALL: Most computer users don't have adequate protection against hackers.
- Two-thirds of all computer users (67 percent) do not have any firewall protection at all - half of those with a broadband connection lack a firewall.
- Almost three-quarters (72 percent) do not have a secure firewall (with no open ports).
- Almost two in five wireless network users (38 percent) leave their connection completely open (without any WEP or WPA-PSK encryption).

SIGNIFICANT CONFUSION: Users said that they are confused by the protections they are supposed to use and how to use them:
- Three in five users (58 percent) said they don't understand the difference between a firewall and anti-virus software very well or at all.
- More than half (53 percent) said they don't understand what a firewall is and how it works.

...

"No consumer would walk down the street waving a stack of cash or leave their wallet sitting in a public place, but far too many are doing the exact same thing online," said Tatiana Gau, AOL's Chief Trust Officer and Senior Vice President for Integrity Assurance. "Without basic protections like anti-virus, spyware protection and a firewall, consumers are leaving their personal and financial information at risk. Now that we know the scope of the problem, we can redouble our efforts to educate consumers about the solutions to staying safe online."

...

Be sure to see the Press Release for more highlights. The complete survey results can be found at:

http://www.staysafeonline.info/news/safety_study_v04.pdf

Scary stuff.

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