Report: one in three computer users within the EU had a malware problem in 2010

The European statistics agency Eurostat, based in Luxembourg, announced on Monday that in the last year nearly one in three internet users in European Union countries has experienced a problem with malware. According to the Eurostat report, 31% of computer users had a malware infection in 2010, which led to a loss of data or time. Any financial losses were not quantified. In compiling the survey, Eurostat used data mostly for the second quarter of 2010 from people in the 27 EU member states in the age range of 16 to 74.

Eurostat says that hardest hit among the EU member states are Bulgaria (58%), Malta (50%) and Slovakia (47%); while Austria (14%), Ireland (15%), Finland (20%) and Germany (22%) had the fewest problems with malicious software. According to Eurostat, 84% of internet users use some form of security software, but protection software with features specifically designed to protect children, i.e. with parental controls, is still not common. In 2010, EU wide, only 14% of computer users living in a household with children were using appropriate security software. Such programs were most popular in Luxembourg and Slovenia (both 25%). In last place is Bulgaria, where only one user in 50 (2%) has installed such software. In the UK the figure is 21%.

See also:

• Safer Internet Day, a report from The H.

(trk)