U.S. consumers lost more than $7 billion over the last two years to malicious software and e-mail phishing schemes unleashed by cybercrooks, according to a study by Consumer Reports magazine.

The figure includes actual money stolen from people's bank accounts and the cost of repairing or replacing computers hijacked by viruses and spyware.

Consumers face a 1-in-4 chance of becoming a cybervictim, according to the magazine's fourth annual "State of the Net" survey of roughly 2,000 households with Internet access.

One of the most surprising findings of the study was the percentage of people who continue to be duped by phishing scams, said Jeff Fox, technology editor for the magazine.

Phishing schemes trick people into divulging personal data using phoney e-mails designed to look as if they are coming from a company the person does business with, such e-Bay or a bank.

Eight percent of respondents reported being hooked by a phishing scheme, the same percentage as in the previous two surveys. The magazine projected 1 million people were victimized over the last two years to the tune of $2 billion dollars.

	Daniel Marsula, Post-Gazette Click photo for larger image. Related coverage: Step up online safety

Sabotage by viruses and spyware resulted in projected damages of $5 billion over the last two years, according to the survey.

A virus is a piece of malicious software that typically comes attached to an e-mail. It can disable a computer or be used by crime rings to essentially take over a victim's computer and use it to send spam to other computers, including stock scams and phishing schemes.

Spyware usually is downloaded inadvertently from a Web site offering a free utility, software or music. Spyware can bombard the user with pop-up ads or use a keystroke logger to steal passwords, account numbers or other personal data.

Virus infections prompted an estimated 1.8 million households to replace their computers in the last two years, while an estimated 850,000 households replaced their computers due to spyware infections in the last six months, Consumer Reports said.

"Some people are overwhelmed and don't know how to get rid [of the problem] and chuck their computer," Mr. Fox said.

The most important messages for computer users these days is that, "You can't trust e-mail the way you used to," and that it pays to protect equipment with security software, Mr. Fox said.

"It's really critical if you are on the Internet and fairly active to have updated anti-virus software and anti-spyware," he said.

"Unfortunately, the onus is still on the consumer. The authorities are working on it, but the bad guys are ahead right now."