Americans Feel Safer on a Computer Than a Mobile Devive

Americans feel their home computers are protected from viruses, malware and hackers but that confidence does not translate to their mobile devices with 87 percent of people surveyed reporting they feel safer going online with their PCs than with their phones, according to the 2010 National Cyber Security Alliance, Norton by Symantec Online Safety Study recently released. The study also finds that Americans' stated confidence with their PC's security might not be valid with less than half using the full protection they need to stay safe online. The study shows that only 24 percent of Americans feel very safe and 61 percent feel somewhat safe that their home computers are protected. In comparison, only 18 percent of those polled feel their mobiles phones are very safe and 28 percent feel they are somewhat safe. Interestingly, while Americans may say they feel protected on their home computers, they are experiencing a false sense of security. When asked, 58 percent reported they had a complete security software suite but when their computers were actually scanned for it, only 37 percent were fully protected. This perception versus reality gap is a concern given that today's threats are complex, requiring comprehensive protection against online threats with a full security solution that includes antivirus, firewall, antispyware, spam filter, antiphishing, and identity protection. "We're encouraged that more Americans feel safe going online from their home computers," said National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) Executive Director Michael Kaiser. "We need to ensure that this is not a false sense of security and that a feeling of safety does not lead to complacency. Americans need to remain vigilant and be sure that all Web-connected hardware has the proper security tools installed and is up to date. In addition, the use of sound judgment and common sense online is necessary to protect personal information and reduce the loss of important data." Popularity of Laptops and Wireless Networks Introduces Security Risks