Spyware Is Still A Large Threat

According to a new survey by CompTIA, spyware is widely viewed as the largest information security threat of current times.  Just a few years ago, it was viruses, but spyware has replaced viruses as the most dangerous threat.  The number of spyware threats, cost to protect against and mitigate them and sheer nuisance, all lead to this conclusion.  Knock on wood, I can't remember the last time we had to clean a virus from a computer.  Spyware however, does still evade defenses on occasion, mostly as the result of user error.  Most anti-virus vendors nor bundle anti-spyware technologies into their systems, so the protection is there and getting better every day.  However, users are still easily tricked into phishing e-mail or fraudulent web sites that trick them into downloading spyware onto their PC's, which leads to larger issues.  Practice safe computing!  Don't click on anything you don't recognize.  Better safe than sorry.