Need news clip to justify higher IT budget in lieu of the Spyware trend.

I need some article or some business statistic or something that would
help justify increasing IT spending (IT labor, not products) due to
the recent increase in spyware.  Something that help explain to the
laymen this new threat and it?s impact on US business and why they
might need to spend more IT services to fight this new threat.  Maybe
on what it has cost US business already.  Maybe also some stats on
cost of viruses.

It would be extra great if it was focused more on small business
(under 50 employees) rather then big enterprises.

Need it by tues or wed if poss.

thanx in advnce

Dear sherpaj-ga,
I trust that the information from these sources will be sufficient for
your needs. Do ask for clarification if they do not.

Fortune Mazine?s article on spyware and its cost to small businesses
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness/technology/articles/0,15114,614397,00.html
How spyware attacks (simple guide)
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness/technology/articles/0,15114,614390,00.html

Extract from ?Statement of The Federal Trade Commission Before the
Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and
Consumer Protection?

"Many of the panelists discussed how spyware may cause problems for
businesses. Companies may incur costs as they seek to block and remove
spyware from the computers of their employees. Employees will be less
productive if spyware causes their computers to crash or they are
distracted from their tasks by a barrage of pop-up ads. Spyware that
captures the keystrokes of employees could be used to obtain trade
secrets and other confidential information from businesses. In
addition, representatives from companies such as ISPs, PC
manufacturers, anti-virus providers, and an operating system
manufacturer indicated that they spend substantial resources
responding to customer inquiries when PCs or Internet browsers do not
work as expected due to the presence of spyware. As such, these
companies also may suffer injury to their reputations and lose good
will."
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2004/04/040429spywaretestimony.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/04/spywaretest.htm

"A survey of broadband users released last summer by the National
CyberSecurity Alliance found that over 90% of consumers had some form
of adware or spyware on their computers, and most consumers were not
aware of it."
Commissioner Orson Swindle, Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/spyware/remarks_swindle.pdf

Detailed figures from the Third SpyAudit Report, which has tracked the
growth of spyware on consumer PCs for the first half of 2004.
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=42899777

Survey Says: Businesses Don't Update Spam Filters May 13, 2004
http://www.esecurityplanet.com/trends/article.php/3353521

'Are hackers using your PC to spew spam and steal?' Very recent
article in USA Today on the vulnerability of PCs and computer crime.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-09-08-zombieuser_x.htm

Blue Ridge Business Journal
Article: Internet security: Who needs it? (You do)
http://www.bizjournal.com/focus/968.html

Article: How Small Businesses Can Tackle Big Viruses 
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3067891


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answerfinder

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Variations on spyware adware ?small businesses? virus millions cost