From TVC Alert:
Naivety About PC Risks
A survey conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) finds that many computer users fail to understand security risks. Only sixty percent of those surveyed “recalled when they last updated anti-virus, firewall and operating system software on their PC.” Thirty percent “believed they had more chance of getting struck by lightning, … or winning the lottery than they did of falling victim to a computer security problem.” Statistics actually show people have a “0.0000102% chance of being hit by lightning” while they have a 70% chance “of falling victim to a computer virus, phishing attack, malicious hack attempt” or other PC security problem.
A similar survey of IT professionals found almost opposite results. Confidence in network security slipped this year–from 90% to 83%, but respondents said “they’re doing a better job of enforcing their security policies.” Eighty-two percent “of CIOs say e-mail is a significant security threat.” The complete survey is a fee-based download.
SEE, Security and Privacy: Do You Feel More Secure Than Last Year? CIO Insight, 1 September 2004