Spam! Virus! Spyware! Incur Major Costs to Consumers
Consumer Reports State of the Net 2006 is out, and the verdict on Internet security is sobering:
Consumers paid as much $7.8 billion over two years to repair or replace computers that got infected with viruses and spyware.
One in four people "had a major, often costly problem" from viruses, with a total cost of $5.2 billion.
What’s more irritating than a virus that costs you a hundred bones to fix? Answer: SPAM. Not the nice pink meaty substance that comes in a can that experienced 15 minutes of fame here – which you should know is actually where the term comes from – but the millions of unwanted email messages that clog the mailboxes of annoyed Americans everywhere?
But apparently, we’re getting less bothered by it: according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project (February-March 2007) more people are getting more spam at more frequent intervals (More! More! More!) but in many cases, are
less bothered by it than before. Is this spam desensitivation? The younger set appears to be affected: 32% them say spam is “just part of life on the Internet and is not that big of a deal." Translation: Chill the freak out, gramps. Delete, and move on.
But Deborah Fallows, author of the report, must be in the latter category of adults, concluding with the statement "Spam is beginning to undermine the integrity of email and degrade life online."
Next on the hitlist: spam’s friendly cousin, direct email.
