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Global Spyware Pandemic, Increase In Malicious Threats Further Illustrate Potential Security Risk For Enterprises And Consumers

Malicious Spyware Surge Also Leading Consumers to Curb Online Activities Amid Identity Theft Fears

BOULDER, Colo., November 8, 2005 - The spyware problem is growing into a global pandemic and infection rates for the most malicious types of spyware are continuing to increase; further illustrating the magnitude of potential risk posed by spyware for both enterprises and consumers, according to the latest State of Spyware report issued today by anti-spyware software developer, Webroot Software.
According to the report, spyware has spread voraciously across the globe, due mostly to the increase in global access to the Internet. Not surprisingly, the United States had the largest number of consumer spyware infections, with an average of 24.4 spies per PC scanned. Thailand had the second highest infection rate with an average of 18.7 spies per scanned PC and the UK rounded out the top three with an average of 18.1 spies per PC scanned.

Webroot also discovered that the most malicious types of spyware - Trojans, keyloggers and system monitors - continue to infect online users at alarming rates. These types of insidious spyware can inflict the most damage by monitoring user behavior and stealing sensitive information; a disturbing fact for enterprises that are required to secure sensitive materials such as financial information or customer and employee records from outsiders.

For this edition of the State of Spyware report, Webroot polled professionals managing the information security compliance initiatives in various corporate organizations. Of the respondents, 98 percent considered spyware a threat to their organizations and over two-thirds categorized it as a serious threat. More than 80 percent of respondents said the most malicious types of spyware - those types that can access confidential records such as keyloggers, system monitors and trojans - represent an immediate threat. Ninety-seven percent of respondents worry that spyware could access employee data, pilfer intellectual property or access company or customer information. However, despite these figures, many corporations surveyed have yet to protect their information with suitable anti-spyware software.

"System monitors and trojan horses pose the most significant threat for online users, especially for enterprises," said C. David Moll, CEO of Webroot Software Inc. Spyware purveyors use these types of spyware to infiltrate a network or an individual PC to steal the very data that corporations work hardest to protect - customers' financial records, for example."

The presence of these insidious types of spyware is affecting consumers as well, fueling consumers' online fears about identity theft and causing many to modify their online behavior. According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports Webwatch, 86 percent of online consumers have made at least one change in their online behavior because of the fear of identity theft and 30 percent have reduced their overall use of the Internet.

"The ever-increasing pervasiveness of the most malicious types of spyware has had a dramatic effect on consumers' usage of the Internet," continued Moll. "Ten years ago consumers hailed the Internet as a helpful new medium, a new means for research, commerce and social interaction. Unfortunately, the birth of the Internet also spawned an underworld of spyware purveyors and identity thieves, and now consumers are left scared and unsure who to trust."

Webroot's State of Spyware report also examines new technologies that spyware purveyors are adopting to further increase the maliciousness and the pervasiveness of spyware, including a recent rash of spies that utilize rootkit capabilities to hide deep within a user's PC and avoid detection. Also included in the report are results from Webroot's SpyAudit scans, an updated list of the ten most significant spyware and adware threats, a detailed review of recent legal and legislative action, a review of recent spyware incidents and an updated analysis on the geographical origin of spyware and which countries are the worst offenders. According to report, the majority of spyware continues to be produced by the U.S., with the Russian Federation coming in second and China and Poland tied for third.

The State of Spyware report is issued quarterly as an in-depth review and analysis of the impact of spyware, adware and unwanted software on consumers and enterprises. The foundation for much of the analysis and trends reporting comes from Webroot's consumer and corporate SpyAudit tools and from online research culled by Phileas, Webroot's automated spyware research system. The SpyAudit tools invite both consumers and enterprises to scan specific PCs and determine spyware infection levels.

The complete State of Spyware Report is available at www.webroot.com/sosreport.

ABOUT WEBROOT
Webroot Software, Inc., is the worldwide leader in anti-spyware security solutions. A privately held company based in Boulder, Colorado, Webroot creates innovative privacy, performance and protection products and services for millions of customers around the world, ranging from large enterprises to small businesses to home users. The company's award-winning and best-in-breed Spy Sweeper product line is one of the most trusted brands in Internet security, protecting millions of PCs globally from spyware and adware. Webroot solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of hundreds of partners. Webroot currently has 275 employees worldwide and is backed by some of the industry's leading venture capital firms, including Technology Crossover Ventures, Accel Partners and Mayfield.

In addition to selling its security products online at www.webroot.com, Webroot products can be found on the shelves of leading retailers around the world, including: Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry's, MicroCenter, Office Depot, Staples, Target and Wal-Mart. Webroot products are also available as either branded solutions or on an OEM basis. To find out more about Webroot, visit www.webroot.com or call 1-800-772-9383.

Source: Webroot

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