Cyber attacks against home computer users are on the increase, largely because they have lower levels of security protection, according to antivirus firm Symantec. It also found that the number of problems continues to grow.

The company's latest Internet Security Threat Report said home users account for 86 percent of all targeted attacks, followed by financial services businesses. In addition, attackers are using a variety of techniques to escape detection and prolong their presence on systems.

Symantec said there's one reason scamsters are going after home users: money. Attackers use a variety of means to steal information, hijack the computer for marketing purposes, provide remote access or otherwise compromise confidential information for profit.

Among the methods to combat these attacks, Symantec said, is to develop "Internet street smarts." Computer users should be as skeptical of someone online who asks them to divulge confidential information as they would someone anywhere else making an offer that appears too good to be true.

The report found that the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser was the most targeted software. However, 47 new security problems were found in Mozilla browsers, such as Firefox, which is promoted as being more secure. IE had 38 new problems. The report also found that average "window of exposure" was 9 days for IE, five days for Apple's Safari browser and one day for Mozilla.

Also, 37 percent of worldwide attacks originated in the U.S., the most-represented country.

Symantec said that there were 2,249 new vulnerabilities found in the first half of 2006, up 18 percent over the previous period. More than two-thirds of those new problems were in Web browsers.