Big differences in internet safety throughout EU
Internet safety differs significantly between EU countries. In a recently published study, based on figures by Eurostat, the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics investigated the use of internet security software and the number of victims of spam and computer viruses in the EU.
Majority of internet users has security software
The use of internet security software is on average 84 percent. The Netherlands scores highest with a percentage of 95 of all internet users. Latvia has the least users of security software such as virus scanners, anti-spam software or firewalls with 62 percent. When internet users have security software, they usually update it as soon as new versions are available (80 percent) or from time to time (another 12 percent).
Viruses affect one third of European internet users
Almost one third of European internet users are faced with computer viruses, for example worms or Trojans. In Austria, however, only 14 percent of internet users had such experiences, whereas Bulgaria scored highest with as much as 58 percent of its internet users.
High contrasts in amount of spam
Negative experiences with spam differ substantially throughout
the EU. Only 18 percent of Irish internet users have to cope with
spam. In France however, up to 70 percent of the internet users are
confronted with these unwanted e-mails. The EU average is 56
percent.