Malware costs U.S. consumers $2.3 billion a year

Malicious software infections cost consumers $2.3 billion in the past year, according to a report just published in the June issue of Consumer Reports.

Based on the 2011 Consumer Reports State of the Net Survey on online households nationwide, the report also found that:

• One third of the households surveyed had experienced a malicious software infection in the past year.
• Consumers replaced 1.3 million PCs last year because of malicious software.
• Free anti-malware programs that Consumer Reports tested provide adequate protection for most people.

More survey results, as well as details on which anti-malware programs provide the best protection can be found in the June issue of Consumer Reports and at ConsumerReports.org.

—Jeffrey Fox