Would you give a stranger unlimited access to your PC for US$1 million?

A recent survey commissioned by anti-virus maker Norton found that 76 per cent of Singaporeans would rather say no to US$1 million than allow strangers unlimited access to their computers.

That sounds like a forgone conclusion, but US$1 million seems like the better deal if you ask me. That is especially if you have the know-how to wipe your system and make sure no traces of your personal information is left behind.

The survey did not take those factors into account and simply asked a “yes/no” question. It’s always tricky when surveys try to put a monetary value on an item which cannot be as easily quantified.

But the survey yielded interesting results overall. Take this question, for example:

“How much money would you be willing to pay in exchange for a day’s worth of Internet access? (S$1 – S$7000)”

Norton found that Singapore Internet users would be prepared to pay an average of S$180 for a day’s worth of Internet access, with the younger age group (18–34 years old) surprisingly willing to pay an average of S$223.

I’d rather go a day without Internet access and keep the money!

But this goes to show how dependent we are on our connected lifestyle, which in turn means securing our multiple devices is more important than ever.

Unfortunately, the survey also found that 66 per cent of Singaporeans have little or no understanding of the online security solutions that are available to them. Today’s security threats go beyond viruses, and include identity theft, data loss, and theft.

Naturally, Norton would want you to choose its security products, which works on virtually all major platforms, including tablets and mobile phones, and has received pretty good reviews.

But no matter which brand you prefer, it’s best to have security software installed in any case. Remember, no system is immune to malware, not even Mac systems.