The vast majority of US enterprises are leaving their networks open to the fast-growing threat of spyware, a newly published study has claimed.
The poll of 275 IT managers and executives conducted by Equation Research for Webroot Software found that even as IT organisations spend more time fighting spyware, very few are deploying corporate solutions against the growing threat.
According to the survey, more than 70 per cent of corporations have expressed an increased concern with spyware, but less than 10 per cent of businesses have implemented commercially available anti-spyware software.
The survey also found that more than 96 percent felt protected from outside threats using traditional anti-virus and firewall solutions, yet nearly 82 per cent report their desktops are currently infected with spyware, with more than a third noticing an increase in spyware infections in the last six months.
"Corporations are risking lost productivity and intellectual property to this rapidly growing threat by not deploying a comprehensive, enterprise-strength anti-spyware solution," said Richard Stiennon, Webroot vice president of threat research.
"Companies need a solution with centralised management to ensure definitions are up to date and scans occur on a regular basis, advanced reporting capabilities to determine the exact nature and location of threats, and the tools to quarantine and remove these threats, all backed by dedicated technical support and threat research teams to offer the most comprehensive level of protection."
