The Optimiser

14 March 2005

Your personal source of Internet news

Women and elderly secure PCs

Older people and women are increasingly protecting their PCs from malicious internet attacks

The number of women buying programs to protect PCs from virus, spam and spyware attacks rose by 11.2 per cent each year between 2002 and 2004.

The two-year study for net security firm Preventon estimates that 40 per cent of those buying home net security programs are retired. The number of elderly web users buying home security packages has risen by an average of 13.2 per cent over the past three years and more retired women (53 per cent) are buying security software than retired men, the BBC reports.

The study indicates that internet use in the UK is changing and a wider range of web users are becoming aware of the importance of protecting their PCs from potentially malicious attacks.

"You started off with young male stereotype computer users for last 10 years," Paul Goosens, head of Preventon told the BBC News website. "Now we are seeing real people - both sexes and very often it is women who have more access at home."

Mr Goosens added that internet service providers must take greater responsibility for advising users about threats to net security, particularly if they are new to broadband. He suggested that security software should be easy to use and protect against spyware attacks and rogue diallers as well as viruses.

Preventon predicts that 40 per cent of all home PC net security buyers will be women in 2005 and women could overtake men as the main buyers by 2007. By the end of the year it is thought that more than 30 per cent of UK homes will have broadband net access.

3 February 2005

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