Symantec Releases Top Online Security Threats for 2009

Online security company Symantec has lately released a report on 'Top security threats of 2009.' As per the report, Michael Jackson has been declared as the riskiest celebrity of 2009. The security company stated that the death of Michael Jackson in June 2009 triggered a wave of spam and malware campaigns as hackers tried to exploit his fans.

The outburst of Serena Williams at the US Open made the Tennis Star second most unsafe celebrity of 2009, whereas Patrick Swayze, Harry Potter and the US President Barrack Obama holds the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Spammers also exploited peoples' fear of getting swine flu infection with mails stating you could "Get swine flu medicine here."

Hackers behind the Conficker virus were declared as the most famous attackers of 2009, whereas owning money to the tax office was the frequently used subject line of spam.

Besides, Symantec's report has indicated to new types of security threats that people should be careful of in 2010.

Symantec has also predicted that 2010 will witness a rise in scams against social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook, and a wave of scareware or forge antivirus solutions that persuade web users to spend their hard earned money on installing hoax security software.

John Bogue, Supervisor, Free Which? Computing Helpdesk, has stated that they receive several mails from members who are urged to download software to secure their systems, as per the news by WHICH on November 17, 2009.

Bogue has also revealed that these forged mails claim that the system has been infected by malware, but they actually meant to sell a fake security solution. Unfortunately, this trend will rise in 2010.

Moreover, malware directed at cell phones, Apple Mac users and URL shortening sites are expected to rise in 2010 as hackers look for new ways of attacking web users.

As a result, the security company has suggested web users to be careful and should not open doubtful mails or attachments. Users are advised not to respond to request for private details, and use strong passwords.

Related article: Sentence for American Contractor for Sabotaging Government Navy Computers

» SPAMfighter News - 11/27/2009