This is an alarming figure for computer users across the country. Accordingly, losses caused by bugs are estimated at between 260,000 VND and 410 000 VND per computer user for 2005.

The statistics are the result of a survey of more than 2,000 computer users conducted by the BKIS Network Security Center in 2005.

Computers used for trade faced the highest risk of infection at 96%, followed by education at 95% and service at 94%.

44% of survey participants reported that work at their offices had been halted for at least one day in 2005 due to computer bugs. 33% are apparently unconcerned by breakdowns caused by bugs, while 5% said that they don’t dare to use their computers until the problems are dealt with by technicians.

According to BKIS’s Director, Nguyen Tu Quang, the survey demonstrates a lack of awareness on the part of computer users of the consequence of computer bugs.

34% of respondents reported having to spend several days sorting out computer breakdowns. 44% of people claim to update their computer’s anti-virus software on a weekly basis, while 20% do so daily and 28% do so only when they’re aware their computer has a bug.

87% of people complained about spyware and adware programs infiltrating their computers. 57% said that they receive 1-10 spam e-mails everyday, while 12% receive between 10 and 20, and 20% receive at least 20 unwanted messages in their inbox, everyday.

According to Vietnamese website managers, in 2005, 34% of websites were attacked one or two times, while 11% were attacked three to five times, and 20% suffered more than 5 attacks.

232 new bugs, including adware and spyware, appeared in Vietnam this year, compared to 84, last year.

(Source: Tien Phong)