Broadband users 'not aware of malicious programme dangers'

The number of malicious programmes designed to infect computers through methods such as so-called "drive-by downloads" has reached record highs but many broadband users are unaware of the dangers, an internet security expert has said.

David Emm, a senior technology consultant with Kaspersky, said malicious codes target vulnerable internet browsers and can get into a computer just by its user visiting a web page.

According to the BBC, the number of malicious programmes online has reached an all-time high, with the total number of variants now five times that of 2006 levels - and Mr Emm says the web is increasingly being used as the platform to launch viral attacks.

"It's the idea of the drive-by download, where I visit a particular website and hidden within a page there is a malicious code," he said.

With more and more consumers going online for shopping and banking, people need to make sure their web browsers have the latest patches and protection software, he added.