Cyber Criminals Launching Sophisticated Malware Attacks

2008 CA Internet Threat Outlook Report revealed that sophisticated bots and malware are expected to dominate internet attacks, targeting various web users such as social network users, gamers as well as unsuspecting and elderly parents.

Vice President of Product Management, CA, Brian Grayek, stated that the online security of users seems a distant dream as the volume of online threats has increased significantly over the past time, as reported by PCworld on November 30, 2008.

Grayek further stated that parents should implement traditional computer safety practices such as not to place a PC in the room of their children and keeping a check on the social networking profiles. Parental control software provides an additional level of security to the web users, he added.

Security experts recommended that users should strictly avoid responding to the pop-ups or e-mails asking for personal or financial details. They should not click on the link given in such e-mails because the legitimate firms never ask for such details through e-mail.

An e-mail account holder might have come across e-mail scams, including different versions of wicked "Nigerian letter" or a message announcing him as the winner of a fake lottery in a foreign country.

Moreover, the downfall of stock market has provided scammers and fraudsters a chance to steal investors' money and personal information. Phishers have evolved as one of the potential offenders, who send e-mails appearing to be coming from legitimate sources and try to steal users' personal and financial details. On the other hand, there are scammers who lure consumers with guaranteed investments.

Additionally, the "fear-factor" is helping out cyber criminals to make investors their easy target. For instance, as the credit crisis is deepening, internet users are receiving an increasing number of phishing e-mails purporting to come from banks and other financial institutions. These e-mails search for online account details of users, which can be exploited by criminals for their illicit purposes.

Furthermore, innumerable mergers and acquisitions of famous financial institutes have created an uncertain environment around the clients. Consequently, the users are highly vulnerable to responding to the messages send by scammers.

Related article: Cyber Child abuser Sentenced To Imprisonment

» SPAMfighter News - 11-12-2008

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