Ninety-six percent of consumers in a 2007 survey said they thought their home computers were safe from online attacks such as viruses and spyware.  But a scan of their PCs at the time of the survey showed that, in fact, 58 percent were at risk.  There are over 300,000 active viruses and 60,000 active spyware programs on the Internet.  Thousands of new threats show up out there every month. 

 

The good news is that there is evidence that computer users are getting smarter about the common threats that can mean a messy hard drive, a hacker taking over your computer without your even knowing it, or even the destruction of your computer system.  And more and more, parents also want to define appropriate Internet usage for their children and block access to non-permitted Web sites.  Verizon is leading the way to help.

 

Some common threats are:

 

·       Viruses -- computer programs that can replicate and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user.

·       Spyware – hidden programs on a customer’s system that inappropriately track personal information and are widely responsible for degrading PC performance and online access.

·       Fraud –fraudulent Web sites that look like legitimate sites but aim to steal important personal and financial information.  This is a common online threat known as “phishing.”

 

Consumers are fighting back against these Internet threats and arming themselves with security services that ensure a great Internet experience for the entire family. As we reported today, more than 1 million customers now turn to the Verizon Internet Security Suite for protection from computer viruses, spyware and online fraud.  This security tool offers parental control features that allow parents to determine the types of content and specific sites that children can access. For $4.99 per month, Verizon customers get a powerful lineup of protection features with their Verizon broadband service, whether it’s FiOS Internet or High Speed Internet.

 

Online security is one of the benefits of Verizon broadband service vs. some alternatives including Wi-Fi that leave users vulnerable to Internet attacks, and consumers are realizing that their computers are even more secure with Verizon Internet Security Suite.