Malware and harmful software
Perceived likelihood of experiencing malware
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Perceived likelihood of experiencing malwareSurvey respondents were asked to rate the risk to their computer from four different examples of harmful software or malware on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is highly unlikely and 5 is highly likely. There was little variation in perceived risk across the different malware examples, where up to a third of internet users indicated it was ‘likely’ or ‘highly likely’ (a rating of 4 or 5) that their computer was at risk from software that could: send spam or redirect them to fake websites (28 per cent) steal their personal or financial information (29 per cent) identify websites they had visited and access their emails (32 per cent) affect the way their computer operated (33 per cent).
Some focus group participants knew more about malware than others. There were those who demonstrated an understanding of how malware can seriously compromise computers, and that computers can be infected by malware without the user’s knowledge. Others were uncertain. They knew that malware and viruses are ‘bad’ for computers but lacked further knowledge about the potential dangers. Malware is stuff that is being loaded onto your computer without you knowing about it, tracking cookies and Trojans and key loggers (aged 35+). If it is a login virus then it can capture all of your bank details and everything. They’re terrible if you get them (aged 35+). [When] companies track where you are, so they put like a little tracking thing that checks where you have been and it can take your bank details ... As opposed to viruses, they [malware] are kind of in the background; you don’t really know they are there (aged 18–34). I know what they [malware and viruses] are, but I think of them both as sort of the same thing, well not the same thing, but both bad (aged 35+). It [malware and viruses] is in the same bag. I have never found out, if there is a virus [on the computer] and it has to be fixed up, but I don’t know the technical details, what exactly happens (aged 35+). Some focus group participants said they had experience of malware that affected their email service and involved spam. I’m not sure if it was a virus or what it was, but it came through on an email, but as soon as you’d open it up you’d know that you’ve done the wrong thing and over the next couple of weeks, things start happening to the computer, something is in the computer, and I’m sure it’s come from that spam email and that’s why we got SPAM fighter; it just … it stopped that problem. The computer runs nicely now (aged 35+). I have had my email compromised. I have had to change it a few times. I was overseas … and everyone got an email to say that I was in Spain and I needed money but it wasn’t the way I speak, so they knew it wasn’t me. It wasn’t like any Australian would speak … They said to put so many thousands dollars in [a bank account]. They didn’t [have] an account though (aged 35+). Age variationFor each of the four examples of malware given to survey respondents, the perception of likely risk increased with age. Fewer younger internet users considered their computers were at risk from harmful software or malware compared to older age groups. The majority of users aged 18–24 years reported that it was unlikely their computer was at risk from malware that could: steal personal or financial information (62 per cent of internet users) use your computer to send out spam or redirect you to fake websites (60 per cent) identify the websites you have visited and access your emails (55 per cent) affect the way your computer operates (51 per cent).
Figure 9 shows less age differentiation for perceptions of likely risk from malware that affects the way their computer operates compared to the other malware examples.
Variation by online activityThe perception of risk from harmful software or malware was similar for internet users who reported doing various internet activities. Approximately the same proportion of people perceived the risk to be at similar levels whether they banked, shopped or paid bills online or participated in social networking. Figure 10 shows the results for one example of malware, that is, malware that allows others to steal personal or financial information. The results were similar for the other three types of malware that were explored in this study.
However, it is apparent that internet users who made online financial transactions perceived themselves to be at greater risk from harmful software or malware. Fewer of these users perceived their risk from malware as ‘highly unlikely’ (22 per cent) compared with people who did not make these transactions (37 per cent). Figure 11 illustrates these findings for malware that allows others to steal personal or financial information. Similar results were obtained for the other three malware examples used in the study.2
Variations by language spoken at homeThe proportion of people who rated the risk of malware as ‘likely’ or ‘highly likely’ was consistently higher for those who speak a language other than English at home, compared to those who only speak English at home. As shown in Figure 12, people who speak a language other than English at home tended to have a higher level of concern about some types of malware. While these results should be regarded as indicative because of the small base of respondents who speak a language other than English at home (n=187), there is a consistent pattern indicating they have a higher perception of risk and generally perceive malware as ‘likely’ or ‘highly likely’ to be a risk to their computer.
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