Nearly 100% of medium-to-large US companies have experienced a computer virus on their corporate networks or desktop PCs, according to new research from the National Computer Security Association.
The survey, sponsored by computer companies including Cheyenne Software, Intel, McAfee Associates, Microsoft, Symantec and Trend Micro, found that 99.33 percent of U.S. businesses had experienced some sort of computer virus first-hand.
While corporate use of anti-virus software increased 13% in 1997 compared with the same period of 1996, the infection rate also increased. The NCSA predicts that 406 out of 1000 machines will be affected by a computer virus in 1997, according to the study.
The most common virus to occur in the last 18 months is the Word.concept virus. This macro virus has grown more rapidly than any other virus ever recorded by the NCSA, infecting 49 percent of all companies surveyed, according to the study. At this growth rate, the number of incidents of the Word.concept macro virus could triple during 1997.
The NCSA plans to use the results of the survey to increase public awareness about viruses. More information about the NCSA's 1997 Virus Prevalence Survey can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ncsa.com/.