The new study commissioned by McAfee and conducted by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) involved looking at the vulnerabilities of companies in the critical sectors, such as those in power/electricity, oil, gas and water. Some 200 IT security executives from the critical sectors in 14 countries worldwide were surveyed to compile the report titled "In the Dark: Crucial Industries Confront Cyberattacks."

The report revealed that 40 per cent of the IT executives surveyed felt that there was an increase in cyber attacks in their industry lately. However, nearly 30 per cent of the same group of executives said their company networks are unprotected and 40 per cent believe that a "major" cyber attack may be imminent within the next year.

The report also noted that the threats to critical infrastructure have increased compared to last year even as efforts to protect the infrastructures have not increased in any way. The new study is a follow-up of last year's study which already noted that critical infrastructures were not as protected as expected.

The 2011 study also noted that nearly 70 per cent of the IT security executives found malware in their systems and nearly 50 per cent in the electricity sector said they found Stuxnet on their systems, including electrical smart grids.