Web Based Crime Malware At An All Time High
January 17, 2009 by AntivirusWare.Malware is blossoming on the web. In fact, the use of malware on websites to steal passwords and other sensitive information from net users is only going to increase even more—and even faster.
Between July 2007 and July 2008, the number of URLs laced with hidden code to steal passwords hit a record high of 9,529. The number of malicious application variants, meanwhile, hit a high of 442 as of May.
The increase has been a result of malicious code being used in SQL injection attacks. A SQL injection attack involves a small, malicious script that is inserted into a SQL database that feeds information to a website. Typically, the host site is legitimate, thus catching users with their guard down.
Financial services are the most commonly targeted industry for phishing attacks. Those focusing on auctions and auction payments are the next most popular with phishers. These increases are partially driven by the poor economy. The financial crisis has given the scammers new opportunities to scare users into entering their username and password on sites that mimic well known, and highly distressed, financial institutions.
Another report issued shows that computer security professionals see cyber crime and data breaches as the top security risks. These are followed by mobility, outsourcing, cloud computing, mobile devices, peer-to-peer file sharing, Web 2.0 services, and malware.
The public is wary. 57 percent of adults fear they may become victims of identity fraud online within the next two years. 90 percent worry about the security of their personal data. These tendencies open the door wide to cyber criminals preying on their fears.