Play It Safe: Consumers spend 1.5bn hours on Malware – Study

The latest study commissioned by Microsoft Corporation. and carry out by the International Data Corporation (IDC) has shown that Malware cost consumers an estimated spend 1.5 billion hours and $22 billion about N3,495 trillion, identifying, repairing and recovering from the impact of Malware.

A Malware is known as software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems.

Also, the study disclosed that global enterprises spent $114 billion, about N18,1 trillion, to deal with the impact of a malware-induced by cyber-attack.

DigitalSENSE Business News further gathered that the global study analyzed 270 websites and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, 108 software downloads, and 155 CDs or DVDs, and it interviewed 2,077 consumers and 258 Information Technology (IT) managers or chief information officers in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Researchers found that of counterfeit software that does not come with the computer, 45 per cent comes from the Internet, and 78 per cent of this software downloaded from websites or P2P networks included some type of spyware, while 36 per cent contained Trojans and adware.

According to Associate General Counsel in the Microsoft Cybercrime Center, Mr. David Finn, the cybercrime reality is that counterfeiters are tampering with the software code and lacing it with malware.

“Some of this malware records a person’s every keystroke; allowing cybercriminals to steal a victim’s personal and financial information or remotely switches on an infected computer’s microphone and video camera, giving cybercriminals eyes and ears in boardrooms and living rooms. The best way to secure yourself and your property from these malware threats when you buy a computer is to demand genuine software,” he said.

The IDC study, titled “The Dangerous World of Counterfeit and Pirated Software,” was released recently as part of Microsoft’s “Play It Safe” campaign, a global initiative to bring awareness to issues related to software piracy.

Additionally, John Gantz, chief researcher at IDC says the research is unequivocal; Inherent dangers lurk for consumers and businesses that take a chance on counterfeit software.

“Some people choose counterfeit to save money, but this ‘ride-along’ malware ends up putting a financial and emotional strain on both the enterprise and casual computer users alike,” Gantz said.

Remmy Nweke/DSBNews 

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