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Cyber attack could cost the average home user £255 in media files

The average cost of multimedia files that a user might lose from a device as a result of a cyber attack or other damage is estimated at £255, according to research by Kaspersky Lab[1]. Many of these losses could be prevented, but after users purchase digital content they often fail to take appropriate steps to ensure that content is secure.

Users can lose files in a number of different ways: losing a device, having a device stolen, or falling victim to malicious users. Cybercriminals understand that users value their files, which is why they are constantly developing new malware that can encrypt data on a hard drive and then demand a ransom to have those files restored and returned.

According to the survey, over the past year 27 per cent of respondents encountered a cyber attack. At the same time, over 60 per cent of users who were victims of malware that either damaged or destroyed data admitted that they had not been able to fully restore their files. During the same period, approximately 14 per cent of users dealt with the loss, theft or crash of their device.

Unguarded digital treasures

Studies have shown that potential losses resulting from the loss of multimedia content (in other words, the monetary value of the files that cannot be restored) is higher among younger respondents, who actively download music and movies. For example, respondents in the 16-24 age group would face an average loss of £408, while those in the 25-34 group would incur an average loss of £277. Users aged 45 and older would lose an average of £138.

When it comes to the value of data losses in different countries, residents of China and Russia were likely to incur the highest average losses at £497 and £492 per user, respectively. This figure is considerably lower in Europe (£140) and North America (£208).

In order to protect digital assets, users not only need to back up their data on a regular basis – they also need to secure their personal devices against malicious attacks designed to steal or extort data. Smartphones and tablets should also have additional tools to help locate a lost device or to mitigate the potential damages of device theft.

Protecting your valuable data

Kaspersky Lab can offer Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device, a comprehensive solution to provide maximum user protection against all types of cyber threats.

The solution includes individual products protecting Microsoft and Mac computers, as well as smartphones and tablets running on Android. iPhone and iPad owners can download the Kaspersky Safe Browser app free of charge to safely and securely view web content on their devices.

In addition to a set of antivirus technologies, each product built into Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device includes special features to reliably protect users against device-specific threats. For example, the version of the solution designed to protect PCs running on Windows includes an Anti-Blocker function, which counteracts Blocker Trojans – malicious programs that block user access to a computer and demand a ransom before restoring access.

The version of the product for smartphones and tablets includes functions to remotely track a device, turn on a loud signal, and take photos of the suspected thief using the device’s built-in cameras, as well as several other features that help in the event of the loss or theft of a device.

-ENDS-

About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is the world’s largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its more than 16-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for large enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Kaspersky Lab, with its holding company registered in the United Kingdom, currently operates in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide. Learn more at www.kaspersky.co.uk .

* The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2012. The rating was published in the IDC report “Worldwide Endpoint Security 2013–2017 Forecast and 2012 Vendor Shares (IDC #242618, August 2013). The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2012

[1] http://media.kaspersky.com/pdf/Kaspersky_Lab_B2C_Summary_2013_final_EN.pdf

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alice Collins .