Another growing problem is data theft and data leakage. The latest security threat report released by Symantec Corporation reveals that the current Internet threat environment is characterized by an increase in data theft, data leakage, and the creation of targeted, malicious code for the purpose of stealing confidential information. According to that report, more than 6 million computers were bot-infected worldwide during the second half of 2006. This number represented 29% increase in infections compared to the previous period.

A bot-infected computer is a PC that was compromised and now has a malicious code installed. The installed code might be an AdWare or SpyWare, or even programs used to execute denial of service attacks at online companies. All the information stored on the infected computers is available to hackers. Hackers collect credit card information, bank personal identification numbers, passwords, confidential correspondence, and email lists and sell it to the interested parties using the underground economy servers.

Symantec reports that the threats to confidential information are on the rise. Symantec tracked the trade of stolen information and captured the data that was sold on underground economy servers. For example, during the last six months of 2006, the U.S.-based credit cards with a card verification number were available for around 1 to 6 dollars while a person’s identity which includes an address, bank account, credit card, date of birth, and a government issued identification number, was available for around 14 dollars.

Confidential data often gets into the wrong hands as a result of a data breach. Symantec suggested that most data breaches resulted from hacker activities, theft or loss of computers, and failures of security policies.

It is very important to cleat your computer from AdWare and SpyWare. A number of most popular AdWare and SpyWare removal programs are offered at ProvenToWork.com.