IM Attacks Turn Highly Sophisticated

On January 29, 2008 a provider of policy, compliance and risk management products for real- time communications, Akonix Inc., declared that the researchers of its IM Security Centre found almost 14 latest harmful code attacks over IM (Instant Messaging) networks in January this year.

The IM worms which were discovered in January were Raiodin, MSNChristmas, Perin and MSNVB. Further, there were also around 14 attacks in January on P2P networks like eDonkey and Kazaa.

As per Akonix systems, the hackers will lure the users towards clicking on a link to a harmful URL with a socially engineered message that will appear like it has been send by a friend. After that, the harmful site installs a Trojan or a worm in the PC of the victim and spread itself through the attacked user's friend list.

In few minutes, the PC will be infected by the Trojan. What makes it more risky is the simple method of installing it. After installing the Trojan, the attacked PC will be secretly inserted into a botnet that will permit the hackers to hack financial statements.

Akonix Systems said that as cyber attackers are shifting towards defense mechanisms employed to cease their cross-site scripting threats, for example, they turn their focus back on IM channels.

Further, the growing adoption of integrated communications in 2008 will bring forth latest corporate liabilities and flaws which includes the range of entry points that can be compromised. Businesses should assure that they put IM on their security checklists, compliance and management in 2008.

Akonix researchers also claimed that PC users have professed an inclination in the degree of dangerous online activity and predict it to be more deteriorating as companies started to roll out Unified Communications in 2008.

Further, this type of attack does not appear like a fad as IM is more famous at work. Hackers got encouraged to involve in a business network in opposition to when IM was only accessed by individuals at home.

Therefore, Akonix researches have advised that companies should follow precautions to protect their networks from being hacked because of an insecure real-time communications applications used by their employees. The organizations should also upgrade their PCs with latest security systems versions.

Related article: IM Has Various Problems

» SPAMfighter News - 2/7/2008