Netbooks can be easier prey for hackers and viruses

Netbooks that gained popularity since their launch in 2007 due to lower costs may pose bigger security risk to businesses because of lax security that makes them vulnerable to hackers and viruses.

Since its introduction by Taiwan’s Asus, all major players in PC business including HP, Dell, Lenovo and Acer jumped into netbook manufacture.

Netbooks’ low computing power and no-frills design could make it easier for hackers to create prefect storm and viruses.

According to Sam Yen, marketing manger for China at antivirus software maker Symantec, internet, regardless of make of computer people are using, is full of risks. The fact that netbook is basically used for surfing internet; those risks are multiplied many-fold, particularly if antivirus software is not installed in the machine.

Due to costs as low as £210, netbooks are provided without gears such as firewalls and other antivirus software, especially provided on expensive computers, making them quite vulnerable to attacks.

According to an analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research, there is no security in netbook design as yet. PC brands do everything possible to keep costs low, even sacrificing on security.

Netbooks, according to IDC research firm, could outperform PC market in 2009. IDC predicts that shipments could increase two-fold to over 21 million units in 2009, compared to 4% growth for all PCs to 305 million units.

Netbook pioneer Asus claims its models are equipped with built-in security and other features sufficient enough for typical user. People can use Asus’s tie-up with Symantec by paying little extra for additional security, informed Samson Hu, in-charge for company’s netbook operations.

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