A spokesman for Get Safe Online (GSO), a government initiative to help consumers fight internet crime, said that for many people the level of virus protection they have may not be enough.

Tony Neate, managing director of GSO, said that although some people are protected by virus software that they may have purchased or received with their computer they may not be covered against all threats.

"Spyware is a newer concept … if all you have is anti-virus you are not safe. There is a perception that people are safe when they are not," he said.

He added that although some people are aware of the dangers of the Internet, it is important to keep up to date with developments so that when new threats arise consumers are covered.

Spyware and malware are two forms of online viruses that can attach to a home computer while the user is surfing the web.