It seems that these days it’s not just computer viruses that PAs have to worry about – new fears have emerged over the safety of security software, as a new Symantec report reveals that millions of computer owners have paid for software which is actually a scam and only serves to make computers more vulnerable. Savvy cyberthieves are planting fictitious security alerts warning users of a virus and recommending their ‘security software’ to protect them. Symantec discovered 250 varieties of fake software designed to protect computers and about 43 million attempted downloads in one year. In some instances users may have paid a fee, while others may have been delighted to be able to protect their machines for free. It’s not known how many downloads were successfully but even a minor proportion could be deadly to businesses.