Microsoft sends out patches for the Windows operating system and its software programs on the second Tuesday of every month and Apple, Mozilla and Opera also issue regular updates for their applications.

However, many of us don't get the updates, leaving our PCs at risk from malicious attacks. Research from Get Safe Online also shows that as many as five million home computers could be at risk from hackers as they have no kind of firewall protection in place.

Tony Neate, managing director of Get Safe Online, said: “Protecting your home PC is a basic part of being safe and secure from the threat of criminal activity on the internet.

“The fact that there are millions of households where the virtual backdoor is left wide open for criminals is a real concern – these people risk not only losing their own personal and financial information, but also put others at risk if criminals are able to access an innocent user's PC or internet connection."

The research was undertaken by YouGov for the Get Safe Online campaign and 2,441 people were questioned about their behaviour when using the internet.

www.webuser.co.uk