Corporates don't take spyware seriously enough

Corporations are experiencing a steady infiltration of spyware into enterprise networks, but only a small number have deployed an enterprise-class solution to combat the threat, according to a new survey conducted by Equation Research for Webroot Software, the leading provider of privacy, protection and performance software.

The survey, which canvassed more than 275 IT managers and executives nationwide, found that even as IT organizations spend more time fighting spyware, very few corporations are deploying corporate solutions against the growing threat. According to the survey, more than 70 percent of corporations have expressed an increased concern with spyware, but less than 10 percent of businesses have implemented commercially available anti-spyware software.

The survey also showed that more than 96 percent felt protected from outside threats using traditional anti-virus and firewall solutions, yet nearly 82 percent report their desktops are currently infected with spyware, with more than a third noticing an increase in spyware infections in the last six months.

"Corporations are risking lost productivity and intellectual property to this rapidly growing threat by not deploying a comprehensive, enterprise-strength anti-spyware solution," said Richard Stiennon, Webroot vice president of threat research. "Companies need a solution with centralized management to ensure definitions are up to date and scans occur on a regular basis, advanced reporting capabilities to determine the exact nature and location of threats, and the tools to quarantine and remove these threats, all backed by dedicated technical support and threat research teams to offer the most comprehensive level of protection."