More Web Users Becoming Edumacated

This via ComputerWorld.com:

" Nine out of 10 Internet users have changed their online habits to avoid spyware and other Internet-based threats, according to a study released today.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project found that an overwhelming majority of Internet users have stopped opening questionable e-mail attachments or have taken other steps to avoid a plague of stealthy, unwanted programs that can disable computers or secretly monitor online activity.

Nearly half said they have stopped visiting particular Web sites that they suspect may deposit unwanted programs on their computers, while 25% said they have stopped downloading music or movies from peer-to-peer networks that may harbor spyware."

I'm glad to hear this, although being married to a systems administrator, I hear horror stories all the time about people who, being otherwise very intelligent, decide to leave their brains at the door when they sit down at their computers and start playing on the Web. They think nothing of giving out personal information to pretty much anyone who asks, don't have any kind of virus protection or spyware protection installed, and then they wonder why their computers are constantly breaking down. However, I'm gratified to know that somewhere, some people are learning how to be safe on the Net.

Related: Most of the really good anti-spyware applications out there are completely free.