Computer security firm PC Tools released a study showing that nearly a quarter of US residents think it is fine to be “plugged in” to the internet during sex.

The survey conducted by Harris Interactive also showed that 29 per cent of people in the country believe it is not a problem to be connected online during a wedding and the percentage climbed to 41 per cent for family dinners.

When it came to protection from computer viruses or other internet-transmitted woes, people said they would rather change a diaper, be stuck in traffic, visit a dentist or get a colonoscopy than clean machines.

“While some of these results may seem amusing, they show that staying connected is a very serious issue to many, no matter what the circumstance,” said PC Tools vice president of marketing Stephanie Edwards.

“It is also noteworthy how we entrust our computers and the internet with our most intimate details, even if we don’t have the time or inclination to worry about computer maintenance or safety.”

Some 79 per cent of people in the United States keep files on personal computers that they don’t want family members, co-workers, employers, or friends to see, according to the survey.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they would be embarrassed if friends or relatives saw certain files on their computers or smartphones.