Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

Computer Hacks through Compromised Websites Escalate, Reports Symantec

Symantec, which has just published its Report on Internet Security Threat, states that attacks on computers have sharply escalated through compromised websites wherein disclosure of storage services for businesses' cloud-based databases are getting exploited.

The security company stated that during 2011, it intercepted and thwarted 5.5bn assaults based on malware-laced websites, accounting for an 81% rise from 2010.

During December 2011, the mean count with respect to malware-laden websites spotted everyday went up 9,300 as against 6,000 in December 2010.

Craig Scroggie, Chief of Australia-New Zealand division of Symantec stated that the increase in computer-attacks was because Web-hackers targeted more-and-more people who had smart-phones and tablets where crucial cloud corporate data was stored as also accessed. Theaustralian.com published this dated May 1, 2012.

Scroggie said that the above development tended to move conventional corporate hacking operations more-and-more in preference for social-networking website-based attacks.

According to him, any market's ultimate volume was determined with the number of end-users there. So was it for the social networks online particularly P-interest, Twitter and Facebook. Cyber-criminals were utilizing those mediums for obtaining information capable of generating revenue, the Chief described.

Symantec's report subsequently analyzes spam activities. According to it, the most well-known spam during recent years has been the pharmacy spam. During 2011, this type of spam was responsible for nearly 40% of all junk e-mails; however, during 2010, 3 spam mails out of a total 10 were pharmacy-related e-mail junk. Other spam like jewelry/watch spam was responsible for some 19% of the total junk e-mails, while dating and sex-themed spam too increased over 10%, contributing a 15% share in the total spam.

Another highlighted point in the report is that during 2011, security flaws within 'Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition" (SCADA) systems along with industrial control computers hiked to 19 as against 15 during 2010. According to Symantec, it's indeed because of the increased awareness of Stuxnet a computer-worm that security vulnerabilities within computer-networks of industries came to light.

The company recommends use of solely reputed anti-virus software, which tackles earlier unfamiliar malware too and emphasizes on solutions preventing data loss, and firewalls that safeguard PC-networks.

Related article: Computer Virus Writers Adopt New Strategy

ยป SPAMfighter News - 5/7/2012

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next