IT infections 'will bite' if companies don't update security

Although companies which do not update their IT security can avoid virus threats, if their networks were to become infected the impact would be much more severe, according to experts.

International managed security services company Network Box has said that while many web users realise there are potential points and sites of infection, many do not know of the new and unknown threats on social networking sites.

Threats are also carried on instant messaging services and other online communication and networking tools, according to research published by software company PC Tools.

Research also found that one-third of Britons never update their security software, compared to five per cent of Germans and seven per cent of French people.

Simon Heron, internet security analyst at Network Box, said that while "you can live on the edge a little bit and most of the time you'll get away with it", a virus or attack can "suddenly bite you, and then it bites you bad".

Mr Heron explained that business IT managers are increasingly overworked due to redundancies caused by the recession, and management skills are suffering leading to IT security being put "on the backburner because it's not critical".