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Survey: Web-based malware puts corporations at risk

One quarter of IT administrators surveyed say data has been compromised by a Web-based threat and one-third cite employee use of social networks and other sites at work.

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Elinor Mills
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Elinor Mills Former Staff Writer
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service and the Associated Press.

A new study found that 85 percent of malware is being distributed through Web applications, which is creating a growing threat for corporations as employees increasingly do online social networking, video watching, and personal e-mail at work.

Other findings of the survey, conducted by security firm Webroot, are:

•Web-borne malware increased more than 500 percent in 2007.

•One-quarter of companies report that data has been compromised by a Web-based threat.

•Nearly one-third say their Web security was compromised as a result of employees using computers at work to access social networks, Web-based e-mail, and video sites.

•15 percent enforce Internet usage policies.

About 650 information technology administrators in English-speaking countries were surveyed this summer for the study.