Over Three-Quarters of Canadian Internet Users Concerned About Getting Hit by a Computer Virus

TORONTO, May 31, 2001 - Canadians have significant concerns about the potential of new computer viruses in large part because they've been hit by digital viruses that have personally cost them time and money, new research from Ipsos-Reid shows. In fact, the study found that over three-in-four (78%) Canadian Internet users are concerned about getting hit by a computer virus in the future .

The costs of computer viruses on business have been well documented. It is estimated that last year's "Love Bug" virus cost companies $8.7 billion USD in repairs and lost productivity worldwide. But the study from Ipsos-Reid marks the first time that the impact on average consumers has been measured. With so many Canadians online (68% of all Canadian adults have Internet access and 61% of all Canadian adults have sent and received email) the threat of viruses is now a top-of-mind among Canadians.

"Normally when we hear about computer viruses and the adverse affect they have, the costs are generally reported from an organization's point of view," said Chris Ferneyhough, Vice President of Technology Research at Ipsos-Reid. "However, as we have discovered, there is quite a cost being borne by the average Internet user accessing the `net from home for personal reasons."

The results from the new Ipsos-Reid study show that the impact on average consumers has been severe, as many Canadians have been forced to take action after getting hit by a virus. In fact, nearly one-half (46%) of Internet Users have already been hit by a computer virus, and of that total, 39% were forced to get their computer repaired as a result.

"The typical Canadian Internet user is not an expert on the `net," continued Ferneyhough. "Accordingly, they aren't likely to have the know-how about what types of email messages to avoid and what to do when they get hit. There's a huge education issue here."

Besides the out of pocket costs of having to get infected computers fixed, Canadians are being proactive in trying to minimize exposure. A total of 61% of Internet users have purchased anti-virus software, and another 21% say that their computer had anti-virus software pre-installed.

"The problem that the vast majority of Internet users likely don't recognize is that viruses evolve and are quick to make anti-virus software outdated," said Ferneyhough. "People may think they are 100% protected, but are discovering the hard way that they are not."

Although virus attacks are more likely to have been experienced by males and younger Canadians, concern about getting hit by a virus in the future is equally consistent across demographic variables.

The "Canadian Inter@ctive Reid Report" is the largest, most comprehensive and authoritative source of its kind about quarterly Internet trends in Canada. The results are based on two separate data collection instruments. In the first, 1,000 web users from Ipsos-Reid's Canadian Internet Panel are surveyed online. Panelists are chosen through random telephone surveys conducted on an ongoing basis across Canada. Results are complemented by a further 1,000 interviews via telephone with Canadian adults in order to verify results of the panel, and track issues among non-Internet users. The most recent quarterly results were collected between March 5th, 2001 and March 15th, 2001. These data are statistically weighted to reflect the population proportions of regular online users by online expertise and regional distribution. Our panelists represent approximately 12.4 million Canadian adult Internet users who are online for one hour a week or more (there are a total of 15.3 million adults who have Internet access).

With a national sample of 1,000 (for each component), one can say with 95% certainty that the overall results are within a maximum of 1773.1 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire population of Canada's regular online users been surveyed. The margin of error will be larger for sub-groupings of the survey population.

Established in 1979, Ipsos-Reid is Canada's leading market research and public opinion company. Its is best known for the Angus Reid Express Poll, the most widely quoted source of public opinion in the country. Founded by Dr. Angus Reid, Ipsos-Reid has conducted extensive market and social research in 80 countries and in 40 languages, and serves clients around the world through more than 300-professionals and 1,000 data collection staff in eleven offices. The company is a member of the Paris-based Ipsos Group, ranked among the top ten research companies in the world.

For more information, contact:

Chris Ferneyhough, Vice President, Technology Research
Ipsos-Reid Toronto
t: 416.324.2283

or

Steve Mossop, Senior Vice President, Technology Research
Ipsos-Reid Vancouver
t: 604.893-1609