Computer Users Lack Basic Security Precautions, Survey Says

Only 42 percent of computer users have firewalls installed and enabled, and only 58 percent have anti-spam protections installed, according to a new survey. Are we still not getting the cybersecurity message?

In an article on the IT World website, Grant Gross says the study by Symantec also found that although 90 percent of users have antivirus software, and 82 percent have anti-spyware protection, that may not be enough.

The study found that 81 percent of those surveyed said they believed they had firewall software installed, and 75 percent said they believed they had anti-spam protections, Adam Rak, Symantec’s senior director of public affairs, told Gross. “What we have is a perception-versus-reality issue here,” he said.

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) told Gross that computer users, at a minimum, must have up-to-date antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall software. But even those three software packages won't provide “bullet-proof” protection.

NCSA offered a list of ways computer users and businesses can practice cybersecurity. Among them: change passwords regularly; back up important files; and know who you're dealing with online. Web users shouldn't give out personal information to senders of unsolicited e-mail and they should ask whether a Web site needs their personal information before they give it.