The statistics are alarming. According to Consumer Reports 2005 State of the Net survey of online customers, home Internet users have a 1-in-3 chance of experiencing the negative effects of Internet-delivered issues such as spyware and viruses.

The same report goes on to point out the irony of the situation given that Americans spent $2.6 billion on computer protection software over the last two years. During that same time period, $9 billion was spent on computer repairs in order to fix problems caused by viruses and spyware.

With all that money spent on protection, why does the problem continue to grow? The majority of consumers rely on free downloads and software in a box solutions. These products require users to install, maintain, and keep them updated, and the majority of anti-virus programs aren’t up-to-date or set up properly.

Now there’s help for Internet customers in the Aberdeen area. Northern Valley Communications has announced its partnership with Security Coverage, Inc., to provide SecureIT Plus services to new and existing customers.

“Recognizing the need to help our customers protect their computers, we are now offering SecureIT Plus—a fully automated and guaranteed computer protection service. If a customer experiences a computer problem due to an Internet-delivered issue while using SecureIT Plus, we will repair their computer issues at no charge. That is how confident we are that this is the best Internet security service on the market,” said Jessie Haggerty, NVC’s Internet Services Manager.

While other products address one or two Internet protection issues, SecureIT Plus is a single service that is made up of a suite of technologies that are fully managed and supported to protect your computer. The service includes fully managed virus and spyware protection, automated Microsoft Windows updates, an integrated pop-up blocker, firewall protection, ongoing hard drive maintenance and optimization for faster computer performance. SecureIT Plus can be installed remotely by trained technicians, and once installed there is no required maintenance or monitoring on the part of the customer.

For more information on computer protection offered by NVC, call 725-1000 or visit their website at www.nvc.net.