Various security vendors are reporting a significant drop in the percentage of emails comprising phishing attacks lately. For example, Kaspersky Labs noted a 37% drop from 1st quarter to 2nd quarter this year. They attribute the drop to better security tools like spam filters, and anti-phishing technology showing up in the latest browsers. I’d like to think it also has something to do with the Internet’s user base getting smarter about phishing and other types of on-line fraud.
The news is welcome, to be sure. The trouble is, the cyber criminals aren’t just giving up because phishing has become less profitable. Most of them are turning to more sophisticated “crimeware” in order to swindle you out of your hard-earned money. If they can’t trick you into giving them your bank account number and passwords, then they’ll try to get them by using key-loggers and banking trojans. And these tools are getting more sophisticated all the time.
Recently, security and hacker sites alike are a-buzz about a new botnet control framework called ‘Fragus.’ The features it advertises include encryption (to defeat signature-based anti-malware software), a sophisticated control interface, customizable exploits, and real-time statistics showing the size and distribution of an operator’s botnet. Zombie computers controlled by the operator not only are prone to deeper infection as the operator sends more trojans, viruses, etc., but they become conduits, used by the controller to spread the botnet to non-infected PCs.
So, while we can celebrate the drop in spam emails, just remember to keep your security tools up to date, and remain vigilant. The war against cybercrime is still heating up.
Save 10% on Kaspersky AntiVirus 2010 Instantly!
Instant savings on KAV 1 pc, one year license Digital product Offer Expires 12/04/10
Coupon Code: No Code Needed!
{ 0 comments… add one now }