Most computing students leave university with virtually no security software training, according to new research.

IT Pro reports government-backed statistics show less than one in five IT undergraduates get more than five hours training in incorporating security functionality during three or four-year courses.

The research was conducted by the Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), set up by the government in 2006.

Quoted by the site, researcher and IT expert Bill Whyte said: "We need to get a greater percentage of security-literate graduates out there."

He added if the figures did not improve, companies faced avoidable financial losses in future due to inadequate security systems.

The survey could suggest the UK needs to up software development on the list of IT security priorities.

KTN aims to provide a single focal point for UK computer security expertise by uniting industry, academic and government experts.

Its current priority list includes making less knowledgeable computer users more security aware in their internet sessions and reducing the risk of commercial IT security breaches.