The latest research from the Pew Internet Project is good news:
Spyware and the threat of unwanted programs being secretly loaded onto computers are becoming serious threats online. Tens of millions of Americans have been affected in the past year by software intrusions and many more have begun to take precautions by changing the way they use the internet. Overall, 91% of internet users say they have made at least one change in their online behavior to avoid unwanted software programs. Among the changes:
- 81% of internet users say they have stopped opening email attachments unless they are sure these documents are safe.
- 48% of internet users say they have stopped visiting particular Web sites that they fear might deposit unwanted programs on their computers.
- 25% of internet users say they have stopped downloading music or video files from peer-to-peer networks to avoid getting unwanted software programs on their computers.
- 18% of internet users say they have started using a different Web browser to avoid software intrusions.
All good news. The fact that people are changing their behavior, coupled with security improvements like those in Windows XP Service Pack 2, means that the Internet is becoming a safer place.
Ed Bott 