Malware and harmful software
Protections against harmful software and viruses
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- Reasons for not using protective methods
- Malware and mobile devices
Protections against harmful software and virusesMost adult Australians reported having an internet-enabled home computer or laptop (81 per cent), which represents almost all adult Australians who reported using the internet for personal purposes (95 per cent). A notable minority of people with home-based, internet-enabled computers or laptops reported they had not installed protective software (10 per cent) and a further eight per cent did not keep their protective software up-to-date. Nineteen per cent did not keep their operating systems up-to-date. Many people applied various other methods to minimise risks from harmful software and viruses, including not clicking on email links from unknown senders (82 per cent), or immediately deleting emails from unknown sources (82 per cent). A small group (four per cent) reported applying all methods of protection against malware that are listed in the survey questionnaire. See Figure 13.
The survey findings show only minor differences in the use of the various methods to protect internet-enabled computers or laptops across the different age groups (Figure 14). However, it is worth noting that the youngest (18–24) and oldest (65+) age groups were less inclined to report using protective methods compared to the other age groups. Having protective software to keep an internet-enabled home computer or laptop protected from harmful software was the most common method used across all age groups, while keeping program software up-to-date was the least common across all age groups.
Focus group participants indicated varying degrees of confidence in using the internet for banking. For security purposes, some participants gave consideration to the type of operating systems they used for online banking and recognised the importance of maintaining these systems and keeping antivirus software up-to-date. I am also a bit paranoid about Windows, so my machine [is] set up with dual boots and I can put it into Linux and I sort of do my internet banking. I don’t do internet banking in Microsoft (aged 35+). It pays to have another malware scanner and it’s a continual thing; keep your Microsoft patching up-to-date, you’ve got to keep your computer in good shape. You’ve got to understand what’s happening and if you don’t, you might get caught (aged 35+). [I do the] updates from Microsoft or use Linux (aged 35+). I just think Linux is a more secure place, there seems to be less malicious activity taking place in that environment because it has got a more robust level of security (aged 35+). I don’t trust the [Microsoft] operating system, the engineering of the operating system (aged 35+). Ninety per cent of people use Microsoft so the villains [hackers] … are targeting Microsoft, and if you’re using an obscure operating system then you’re safer just because you’re not using Microsoft (aged 35+). Some participants noted the difficulty of protecting computers against new risks because viruses are constantly being developed, and expressed concern about the limitations of antivirus software that does not provide complete protection. Generally, participants agreed that there is an inevitable cost of using and protecting computers from harmful software. I think the problem is that ... everyone’s getting very clever and the viruses are obviously more clever … the people making them are getting more clever so if we don’t upgrade our virus protection to something that’s more current for now, is it going to protect all these new things coming in because there are new things (aged 35+). [I used to have antivirus software]. I had a virus and they would say we can’t protect you against everything. I said well, if that’s the case, you can’t charge me. If you can only stop 50 per cent of the viruses, only charge me 50 per cent of the premium and you have these long arguments to get them to actually do something for you so it was not just worth it. So I just use the free one (aged 35+).
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of the respondents interviewed in this study who had protective software on their home computer or laptop identified themselves as the person who usually installs or updates that software, as shown in Figure 15. Almost one in five reported that their spouse or partner usually installs or updates protective software (18 per cent), and one in ten had a computer technician (10 per cent) or a friend or relative (nine per cent) do it for them. Six per cent reported that one of their children usually does this.
Reasons for not using protective methodsInternet-enabled home computer and/or laptop owners were asked their reasons for: not having protective software not keeping protective software up-to-date not keeping their operating systems up-to-date. The main reasons given were that their brand of computer does not get malware or viruses (15 per cent), they don’t need protections (12 per cent), and they do not know how to install antivirus protection or how to update their computer software (nine per cent).
Malware and mobile devicesOf the people who used their internet-enabled mobile phone or other mobile device for online banking, paying bills, shopping or social networking, just over half believed their mobile device was protected against harmful computer software and viruses (52 per cent). Almost a quarter said their mobile device was not protected (24 per cent) and the same proportion was not sure if it was protected (24 per cent). See Figure 17.
The main reasons given for believing that their mobile devices are protected from harmful software included an understanding that the device has built-in protections (36 per cent), and because the user had installed the protective software themselves (29 per cent), as shown in Figure 18.
The findings presented in the previous chapter on the higher use of home computers and laptops for online banking, paying bills and shopping—and social networking to a lesser degree—also suggest that greater consumer confidence is placed on the security of home computers and laptops compared to mobile phones and other mobile devices. Despite using mobile devices to check emails and for internet banking, very few focus group participants were certain that their mobiles are protected from harmful software. Some assumed their iPhone is protected and others did not regard harmful software as an issue because they had no experience of it on their mobile phones. Also mentioned was the installation of antivirus software by an owner of a tablet with an Android operating system. iPhones are sort of pre-protected (aged 35+). I use my mobile phone for banking and the internet all the time. In fact I will sit at home quite often, it is easier than getting on the computer, I will just use the wireless internet so I am not using [my mobile phone internet data plan allowance]. … Maybe I am being complacent but I just assume that the iPhone is reasonably protected (aged 35+). I put some antivirus software on an Android tablet … (aged 35+).
My worry about the smartphone is that—and it’s the biggest scary thing— … we have our emails at our home and we make sure we have all this virus protection at home … [but] my concern is that I check my emails all the time on my smartphone (aged 35+). Some participants did not use their mobile phone for online banking. As a rule [I don’t do internet banking] on a mobile phone because it doesn’t have the protection a computer does (aged 35+). Directory: media media -> Applications to Drill media -> Unicef voices of Youth Chat Theme: Children and aids nigeria and Zimbabwe 13 October 2006 Background media -> Tsunami Terror Alert: Voices of Youth media -> Biblical Eschatology Presentation by: D. Paul Beck May 4, 2016 Ground Rules media -> Guide to completing the collection using the Omnibus system media -> The milk carton kids media -> Events Date and Location media -> The Gilded Age: The First Generation of Historians by H. Wayne Morgan University of Oklahoma, April 18, 1997 media -> Analysis of Law in the United Kingdom pertaining to Cross-Border Disaster Relief Prepared by: For the 30 June 2010 Foreword media -> Cuba fieldcourse 2010 Download 297.27 Kb. Share with your friends:
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