Internet Security Threats Evolve with Greater Sophistication

GTISC (Georgia Tech Information Security Center) published its annual report wherein it reveals the chief threats to data security that are expected to evolve and expand in 2009.

The report states there are five security threats evolving in the cyber space. These comprise malware, cyber warfare, botnets, and threats to mobile devices and VoIP. Also, continuously evolving economy of cyber-crime is producing increasingly sophisticated threats.

Furthermore, the security researchers at GTISC said that attackers are getting more sophisticated and subtle in all the five areas. They are also becoming increasingly skilled at exploiting fresh Web developments like the rise in Websites for social networking.

In addition, malware development skills are rapidly maturing, an expertise that is appropriately suited to take advantage of constant flaws in poorly designed Websites, particularly social networking Websites. The report highlighted Kaspersky's Security Evangelist Ryan Naraine's prediction that there would be a ten times growth in the malware samples detected in 2008.

The report states that as cyber criminals move ahead from mass-distribution of phishing e-mails, they are learning the methods of personalizing and localizing their attacks to increase their penetration.

Moreover, it is possible that social networking Websites like Facebook, MySpace etc. would be used as means to get innocent users into following malicious links to malware-delivering Websites.

To give an example, the report illustrated an exploit code that transmits a Facebook message between two friends about a YouTube video along with a link leading to a malicious clip. But when the recipient opens the link, he is prompted to download a updated version of Flash player from the internet to play the video. And when he goes for the update version, a malware is installed on his PC.

Another shortcoming that malware keeps on taking advantage of is the lengthy waiting period in updating and patching software on business computers. According to Naraine, an average enterprise takes about 3-5 months to deploy a Windows patch, giving enough time to botnets and malware programs to exploit known vulnerabilities and weaknesses, as reported by ComputerWorld on October 16, 2008.

» SPAMfighter News - 23-10-2008

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