$8 Billion Lost to Online Scams in Past Two Years

According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, numerous online threats have cost customers $8 billion in the past two years. $7.8 billion of these costs stemmed from repairs and parts for or replacement of computers hit by spyware and viruses. Consumers now have a one in three chance of falling victim to phishing, spyware or other attacks and losses from phishing have quintupled since 2005. The average take on a phishing scam is now $850.

2.6 million households encountered viruses so destructive as to require the replacement of the infected computer. Given that, the 2.4 million figure for households with broadband unprotected by a firewall may seem unsurprising. There also appears to be some correlative evidence of kids’ surfing habits contributing to the problem. Chances of spyware infection increased by 28% for homes where those under 18 went online.

In addition to reporting on the problem, Consumer Reports also rated some of the solutions, lauding Zone Labs Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite, Trend Micro PC-cillin and Spybot Search and Destroy for performance and features.