User downloads = spyware hell

The survey, of 600 IT managers and 1000 end users, shows applications such as IM, peer-to-peer connections and Skype are sneaking onto networks and bringing with them a host of problems.

"Users feel they have the right to introduce these things without realising the implications," said Frank Cabri, VP marketing at Facetime that conducted the survey. "Spyware is becoming a big headache as a result. The problem is that even though companies have solutions in place often the technology isn't good enough to deal with the wide range of spyware."

According to the survey most end users are under the impression spyware is under control and almost all have installed applications that would not necessarily be approved under their companies IT guidelines.

Although IT managers are putting security in place, such as gateway antivirus, URL filtering and IDS, the survey also showed that the majority are still succumbing to viral attacks and up three in ten have experienced viruses across IM platforms.

www.facetime.com