Half of Internet users face attacks via the web

It has announced that around fifty percent of web users face attacks via the web, showing how vulnerable broadband users can be to malicious attacks.

A study that was recently carried out by YouGov on behalf of the communications giant Talk Talk has shown that around fifty percent of web users face attacks via the Internet. This shows how increasingly vulnerable broadband and internet users have become over recent years when it comes to these types of attacks.

The study involved looking at the internet activities of around twenty thousand web users in the UK. Forty five percent of those polled said that they had encountered some form of web based attack, which included pop ups. However, many of the attacks were far more serious such as attempts to steal someone’s identity.

Around thirty four percent of web attacks were down to Adware according to the report, which involves the malicious collection of private and sometimes sensitive data. Trojan Spyware was responsible for fourteen percent of attacks and web worms were down to five percent. ID theft and phishing scams clocked up four percent and hackers came in at three percent.

An official from Talk Talk said: “It would be a shame if fears about security and safety prevented anyone from enjoying all the benefits of the online world. People do have to take individual responsibility for their safety online but we do more than other ISP to help people stay safe.”

Have you been a victim of a malicious web attack?