Cyber Crime Feared More Than Burglary, New Study Suggests

ORLANDO, Fla., June 9 /PRNewswire/ — AVG Technologies, a leading developer of Internet security software for consumers and SMEs, this week released the results of its own research study that showed U.S. citizens are more concerned about being the victims of cyber crime than burglary or assault.

Of the 1,000 PC users surveyed in March 2008 through market research company Ipsos, 57% felt that they will most likely be the victims of cyber crime with only 21% believing they will be victims of burglary.

   These results can be linked to two key behavioral trends:   — Very high use of the Internet for increasingly sensitive transactions:      — 74% of users shop online      — 67% of users bank online      — 63% of users pay bills online   — Low levels of protection with high concerns for cyber-related crime:      — 15% of users surveyed didn’t know when security software was         installed on their computers      — 91% of users agreed that cyber theft is certainly a concern    

While 57% of users surveyed said they would most likely be the victims of cyber crime/theft, 73% felt confident that they were being protected by their Internet security provider.

“It’s clear that we still have a considerable amount of work to do to protect computer users against cybercrime,” says AVG Technologies CEO J.R. Smith. “In the space of a few years, the nature of the threat has changed from a sport to professional criminal activity. The challenge for us now is to deliver security with a light touch that does not stifle innovation.”

“Securing the Web, by its very nature, should be a collaborative undertaking. That’s why AVG’s threat research incorporates user input as a core component, fostering an environment in which users cooperate with researchers to ensure the protection of all.”

AVG Technologies offers both free and commercial products to help home users and SMEs proactively protect their digital assets against unauthorized access or abuse. Home users can choose AVG Anti-Virus, AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall, or AVG Internet Security, while business users can select networked versions of the Anti-Virus and Internet Security products as well as file- and email-server based Anti-Virus. AVG Free offers basic anti-virus, anti-spyware, and safe-searching protection for individual users. All products offer unobtrusive high-performance protection and ease of use, and are backed by global research laboratories providing frequent updates to ensure continuous protection.

About AVG Technologies

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in the Czech Republic, AVG is a leading international developer of Internet threat protection solutions for consumers, SMBs and small enterprises. AVG protects more than 70 million computer users around the world. The company has regional offices in North America and the United Kingdom, and employs some of the world’s leading experts in Internet security, specifically in the areas of threat research, analysis and detection. AVG’s award-winning products are distributed globally through resellers and over the Internet as well as via third parties through Software Developer’s Kits (SDK). Please visit http://www.avg.com/ for more information.

AVG Technologies

CONTACT: North America PR, Bryan Ferraro or Julie Parayno,+1-408-395-3600, both of Dovetail Public Relations for AVG Technologies

Web site: http://www.avg.com/