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Malware Sneaks in through Legitimate Websites

StopBadware issued its 2007 Trends in Badware report on October 2, 2007 stating that the criminals are discovering new methods to install their malware on the user's PCs - frequently by infecting sites on which the users rely.

StopBadware with assistance from Google Inc., one of its patron firms, keeps a record of 200,000 sites known for their malware downloads. The October 3, 2007 edition of PC World informs that as per StopBadware's project manager Max Weinstein, over 50% of these sites have been compromised and aren't even aware of it.

As stated by the report, malevolent cyber-terrorists are drawn to spots where readily available flaws are generally found. These flaws are often focused on the jam-packed public hosting servers normally utilized by minor sites.

Cyber threats to companies come in the form of spyware, which can harvest confidential financial data.

In order to fight this, many UK banks have furnished machines that produce specific codes that have to be entered everytime one uses his online account, so as to offer a new obstacle to hackers, the BBC informs.

Users were counseled to keep their anti-virus software updated and dissuaded from visiting risky sites, Weinstein told. Though users still don't want to visit such Websites, it is observed that visiting perfectly legal sites can also land one in trouble.

The study further revealed that two kinds of assaults have surfaced in the initial half of 2007. These are: utilization of iframes to insert malevolent pages within frames of otherwise secure pages, and the implementation of JavaScript browser exploits. Concealed iframes are usually embedded at the beginning or the end of a source code in a Web page. For spreading badware, javascript is frequently encrypted or coded to make its malevolent trait hard to identify.

A new cause of worry is social networking sites. People should also be suspicious of bogus accounts installed on legal social networking Websites, normally intended to entice unwary users to malevolent sites, Weinstein alleged.

However, Weinstein thinks matters are improving, mainly because users are becoming more prudent about their online activities.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

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