Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How Much Do Computer Virus Attacks Really Cost?

Posted by Cliff on from the let's-get-some-cost-analysis-on-that-17B-figure,-Bob! dept.

An Anonymous Coward asks: "I'm presently doing a research project on the actual cost of computer viruses to companies within the U.S. Computer Economics, a research firm out of Carlsbad, California, has released statistics suggesting that virus attacks have cost U.S. businesses $17.1 Billion in 2000. That figure has gone on to be quoted in a number of other publications such as an article in Information Week magazine, but beyond a simple explanation, statistics aren't presented to back up this claim. How much have virus attacks cost you or your company?" To be honest with you, I too would like to see the mathematics behind this claim.

3 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. It can cost a lot... by NetJunkie · · Score: 5

    It can cost a lot when a business gets hit hard by a virus..but it shouldn't.

    Take today for example..that big new scary .vbs virus is running around but we are protected. Why? Not because we run Linux (We do..just not most people), but because I block *ALL* .vbs attachments coming in our network. Easy to do..works damn well. I have 14 hits of this new virus in our log but none of my users are the wiser.

    As for costs... I know when I Luv You hit many businesses were without email for DAYS. It took several admins hours and hours to clear out the systems, which costs a lot of money. Plus lost productivity from users. I don't think we'll get hit by another one like that again, hopefully admins learned their lesson.

    If you're not blocking .vbs files TODAY, you need to be asking why not.

  2. Virus cost: by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 5

    Windows ME sells for 169.99 at Amazon.com

    --
    Je t'aime Stéphanie
  3. How much do virus *myths* cost businesses? by tenzig_112 · · Score: 5
    That's the real question.

    As a sysadmin at a small-ish company, I get dozens of bogus virus warning e-mail messages per week. That's not the problem, though. It's when they pass the message on to the company at large because they don't think I'm taking it seriously enough. It's the "I've got a virus/get me a new computer" mentality when they've downloaded too much pr0n.

    argh!