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The battle against data theft

By Shaya
Johannesburg, 21 May 2010

There is a general misconception that cyber-criminals select only high worth users and the majority of Internet users underestimate the risk of illegal access to their data.

In a recent survey conducted by Avira, 10% of Internet users confirmed they had been victims of some form of data theft, of which 4% had suffered actual financial loss and the remaining 6% had been victims of identity theft.

As cyber-criminals become more ingenious, detection of unusual behaviour or reduced system performance is now only possible with the extensive security protection. Greater sophistication of potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) means their presence remain undetected for longer and small frequent pay-offs are far more frequent that users believe.

Data theft from e-mail and online accounts such as Facebook and eBay or careless responses to online scams may be all that is required.

Anyone receiving a phishing e-mail from an unknown source should avoid clicking on the links it contains at all costs and should immediately delete the message from their mailbox. Users should also make sure they are using their bank's official Web site when banking online. If they encounter any irregularities, they should report these in writing immediately to the bank or to the relevant consumer agencies. These are simple precautions, but the greatest assistance comes from having robust protection.

Avira advises users to choose a security solution that not only protects against viruses, but also filters out undesirable Web sites and prevents illegal access to their computer. Avira's free AntiVir Personal - Free offers private users basic protection against viruses, worms and Trojans. Avira also offers a number of more extensive security packages.

The WebGuard included in Avira AntiVir Premium filters out malware from the data stream before it ever reaches the Web browser. Avira Premium Security Suite provides all-round protection with a firewall to protect against attacks from the network, combats spam and performs backups.

Avira also guarantees that all its products are “Made in Germany” and contain no backdoors for data espionage.

Avira

Avira GmbH is a leading global provider of IT security solutions for professional and private use. With over 20 years of experience, the company is one of the pioneers in this field. As a foundation member of the initiative “IT Security made in Germany” (ITSMIG e.V.), Avira guarantees that it provides IT security products with no backdoor.