Source: Washington Post
The number of malicious software programs vying to take up residence on unsuspecting computer users' hard drives has quadrupled in the past two years, according to German security experts AV. In the first two months of 2008, AV Test found more than 1 million samples of malware spreading online.
Much of the malware harvests financial and personal data, which is sold to groups that turn the information into cash through identity fraud. Cyber criminals also use infected machines to anonymously attack others, relay junk e-mail or host fraudulent Web sites advertised through spam.
A special emphasis is placed on creating malware that exists peacefully with infected computer systems, doing its work quietly in the background. Today's cyber criminals are continuously updating the malware they have managed to install on victims' computers, replacing older malicious files with new ones to keep them hidden. And anti-virus programs aren’t sufficient defence. For many users, some of the most tenacious intruders cannot easily be removed without reinstalling operating systems.
Malware enters the corporate computer chain via a number of vulnerabilities. These include:
- Infected websites. Even seemingly legitimate websites can be infected.
- Poor thumb drive discipline.
- Picking up CDs at international exhibitions.
- Poor home PC security, leading to malware passing via laptops to corporate networks.
- Opening email attachments.
- Clicking on links in emails from unknown or spoofed sources.
Remember than once inside your firewall, some data-stealing malware can then remain undetected.
ARC Training’s Information and IT Security Workshop addresses these and many other common data security vulnerabilities. Dates are:
7 April 2008
11 August 2008
24 November 2008
Or on-site, on request. Contact Janet.
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