New malicious attacks in 2010

Social engineering will be the primary attack vector in 2010, according to security company Symantec. It says attackers are going directly after the end-user, attempting to trick them into downloading malware or divulging sensitive information.

In 2009, security threats increased exponentially, as cyber criminals designed their attacks to include social networks, current events and rogue software, notes Symantec. The explosion of unique malware variants last year means traditional approaches to anti-virus are no longer enough to protect against today's threats, it adds.

In its trends outlook for 2010, the company predicts these criminals will continue to develop more sophisticated attacks.

As Mac and smartphones are set to gain popularity this year, Symantec expects an increase in Mac and mobile malware, with more attackers creating malware to exploit these devices.

While investing in security software should be a top priority for any organisation, the company warns against rogue security software scams. In extreme cases these scams seek to hijack users' computers, rendering them useless and holding them for ransom.

2009 saw record levels of spam, and the security company predicts spam volumes will continue to fluctuate this year. In 2010, spammers will continue to adapt to the sophistication of security software, the intervention of responsible ISPs, and government agencies across the globe.

Finally, Symantec predicts that Captcha technology will improve, prompting the rise of instant messaging spam. The company forecasts that one in 300 IM messages will contain a URL.

Also, one in 12 hyperlinks overall will be linked to a domain known to be used for hosting malware, says Symantec. This means in 2010, one in 12 hyperlinks appearing in IM messages will contain a domain that has been considered suspicious or malicious, warns the company.

Related stories:

• Identity theft rises
• Fake profiles highlight user apathy

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