Are viruses, malware winning security battle?
Virus programmers know no limits when it comes to creative ways of making the Internet unsafe. Rootkits, originally programs designed to help computer administrators, are the current bugbear for security firms trying to prevent them from sneaking worms, Trojans and viruses past anti-virus programs, reports Earth Times.
There is no stock recipe for detecting malware. Virus authors work hard to stay ahead of their pursuers. To close that gap, most anti-virus programs perform heuristic scans to look for general virus behaviour patterns, it states.
Firewall software is recommended as an additional security measure. This allows the computer user to at least partially control what is being sent and received by his/her computer. At minimum, the Windows firewall function should be activated.
Phishing, ID theft increase dramatically
Industry experts have reported a "dramatic increase" in online identity theft over the past two years. A report from McAfee said the instances of key-logging malware to capture passwords and other private information increased by 250% between January 2004 and May 2006, according to SC Magazine.
Additional findings from the security firm's research show the number of phishing alerts tracked by the Anti-Phishing Working Group has multiplied 100-fold over the same period of time.
"Identity theft is a global phenomenon that threatens all of us, which means we all need to become more aware, more vigilant and less trusting to protect ourselves," said Jeff Green, senior VP of McAfee's Avert Labs.
Deloitte makes 2007 security predictions
Deloitte has outlined its main predictions for the technology sector in 2007, focusing on security concerns, reports BCS.
The report indicated that demand for more sophisticated security systems involving biometric forms of identification will rise, including iris, fingerprint and palm geometry.
Businesses will also begin to shift away from offering free products such as e-mail, instant messaging and VOIP, mostly as a result of the deluge of spam and malware that has flooded the Internet over the years.
Share