From Reuters:
Security breaches from computer viruses, spyware, hacker attacks and theft of equipment are costing British business an estimated 10 billion pounds ($18 billion) a year, according to a survey on Tuesday.
The loss is 50 percent higher than the level calculated two years ago, said the study by consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Department of Trade and Industry.
The rise comes despite companies increasing their spending on information security controls to an average 4-5 percent of their IT budget from 3 percent in 2004.