Inaugural report charts 28 spies per computer
ATLANTA and BOULDER, Colo., April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EarthLink
(Nasdaq: ELNK), one of the nation's leading Internet service providers, and
Webroot Software, a producer of award-winning privacy, protection and
performance software, today announced the launching of a SpyAudit report to
monitor the growing threat of spyware. The first report is now available
at http://www.earthlink.net/spyaudit/press .
The results from the SpyAudit report are culled from EarthLink's and
Webroot's SpyAudit detection programs that run analyses of Internet users PCs
and provide audited reports of spyware residing on the machines. Spyware is a
rapidly proliferating type of software that secretly forwards information
about a computer user's online activities to another individual or company
without the user's knowledge or permission.
"When Internet users have questions about spyware, we want them to turn to
the SpyAudit report as a reliable source of current information about this
growing threat to Internet privacy," said Matt Cobb, EarthLink's vice
president of core applications.
"By tracking and publicizing the growth of spyware, we can better educate
consumers of its risks and encourage them to take steps to protect themselves
and their families while online," said Christine Stevenson, Webroot Software's
vice president of marketing.
Initial SpyAudit Report Results
The initial SpyAudit report charts the overall number of scans and also
the initial figures for each of the defined spyware categories from January 1,
2004 to March 31, 2004. Moving forward, press releases will chart the figures
for each category and the percentage growth over the previous month's results.
Total Number of SpyAudit Scans: 1,062,756
Total Instances of Spyware Found: 29,540,618
Instances of Spyware per Scanned PC: 27.8
Adware Installations on Scanned PCs: 5,344,355
Adware Cookie Installations on Scanned PCs: 23,826,785
System Monitor Installations on Scanned PCs: 184,559
Trojan Installations on Scanned PCs: 184,919
Analysis of Initial Results
"Over the past three months, EarthLink and Webroot found more than 29.5
million instances of spyware. This figure equates to an average of nearly 28
spyware items per computer and demonstrates the broad proliferation of
spyware," said Cobb. "While most spyware is Adware-related and relatively
benign, it's disturbing that over 300,000 of the more serious System Monitors
and Trojans were uncovered. This figure represents how real a threat identity
theft or system corruption is for users."
Definitions of Spyware and Categories
Industry experts suggest that these types of programs may infect up to 90
percent of all Internet-connected computers. Typically, spyware arrives
bundled with freeware or shareware, through email or instant message, or by
someone with access to a user's computer. Once on a hard drive, it begins
reporting the next time the user goes online. Unlike most software
applications, spyware is difficult to detect and can be difficult to remove.
System monitors are designed to keep track of a consumer's computer
activity and can record virtually everything a user does online. Keystroke
loggers, a type of system monitor, record each user's keystroke, possibly
exposing the user to risk of information and identity theft. Trojans are
applications that appear as harmless programs, but instead facilitate theft of
computer data by permitting hackers to gain unrestricted access to computers
while Web surfers are online.
The two most common types of spyware are adware and adware cookies.
Adware is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed
while the program is running and then sends data back to a third party without
permission. Adware cookies are a mechanism that allows a Web site or software
to record a user's surfing habits without their knowledge or consent.
To further inform consumers about the dangers of spyware, EarthLink offers
a free-of-charge spyware detection program, SpyAudit. SpyAudit give a fast
detailed report in minutes and is available to all Internet users
at http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/spywareblocker/ .
About EarthLink
"EarthLink revolves around you(TM)." Celebrating ten years as a leading
national Internet service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned
an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of
online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003
Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM),
EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed Internet
Service Providers. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers
what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality
connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and customizable
features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet
service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy
the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800)
EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at http://www.earthlink.net .
SOURCE EarthLink
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Related links:
http://www.earthlink.net
http://www.earthlink.net/spyaudit/press
http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/spywareblocker
CONTACT:
Deisha Galberth of EarthLink,
+1-404-748-7146, or galberth@corp.earthlink.net; or Christine
Stevenson of Webroot Software, Inc., +1-303-218-2689, or
cstevenson@webroot.com
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