According to a recent Norton Cybercrime Report, 431 million adults in 24 countries experienced some type of cybercrime over the past year, which is up three percent from the 2010 study. The top three cybercrimes, according to the study, are viruses or malware, online credit card fraud, and phishing or e-mail scams. In the United States, that amounts to 141 victims per minute.

Our study found over 41 percent does not have software security, Helen Malani, a Norton consumer cybercrime expert, was quoted recently in the media. There is a general apathy about it, a disconnect. Three times as many people have been the victim of online crimes, but yet they are more afraid that they will be robbed on the street.

According to the study, over the past year, the United States total bill for cybercrime topped $139 billion. We were astounded by the costs in terms of cash lost, Malani said. The number came to more than $388 billion globally. That is more than the illegal drugs market in heroin, cocaine and marijuana, Malani contends. Cybercrime is an illegal underground economy and it needs to be taken more seriously.