As holiday travelers prepare to feast on “Yuletide Logs,” mischievous fraudsters are cooking up their own ‘keylogging surprises’ for the New Year

SAN FRANCISCO, CA December 11, 2006—PC Tools’ Malware Research Center reports a 57 percent increase in keylogging activity affecting both the consumer and enterprise users in Europe and the United States.

According to European reports recent keylogging cases have cost between $10,000 and $100,000 for individuals, and up to $500,000 for banks and corporations. In the U.S. the financial figures are equally concerning—and many individuals face difficulty getting their lost funds returned.

“We understand the devastation when someone unwittingly provides personal information on the Internet through no fault of their own,” said Michael Greene, Vice President for Product Strategy. “Our hope is that consumers and business IT managers stay ahead of this potential problem.”

Keylogging is the tool of choice for industry pirates who target specific corporate officers and individuals to steal sensitive information.

For consumers, the problem happens in more subtle ways where the thief simply installs the threat and waits for a victim. It often happens in a hotel lobby where a computer is provided for busy travelers. That computer may have keylogging tracking software embedded and the unsuspecting traveler is snared as he or she makes a quick bank transaction or credit card payment.

“We urge individuals and business users to safeguard sensitive personal information. To help protect businesses, PC Tools offers free copies of Spyware Doctor Enterprise for businesses with 500 seats or less,” Greene said.

⁽¹⁾Current awards include: PC Magazine Best Anti-Spyware 2005, Editor’s Choice 2006; Windows XP Magazine, Editor’s Choice; PC Pro Recommended 2006, A List product; PC Answers Editor’s Choice 2006; PC Advisor Gold award 2006; PC User ‘Top Buy’ 2006; Computer Shopper Best Anti-Spyware of 2006.

ABOUT PC Tools Limited™

PC Tools is a global security software leader with products including award-winning Spyware Doctor along with effective anti-spyware products. The PC Tools Malware Research Center monitors trends and emerging spyware issues and provides security solutions for the consumer and enterprise marketplace. The company is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in San Francisco, London, Dublin, Melbourne, and Kiev. PC Tools has a global network of distributors, resellers, and retailers.

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