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Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA List Master

NRT-0422 Computer Security Targets for 2008:

A recent "Internet Security Outlook Report" issued by CA Incorporated warns that social networks and Web 2.0 are among the top potential targets for online attacks in 2008. The study, based on data compiled by CA's Global Security Advisor researchers, features internet security predictions for 2008 and also reports on trends from 2007. CA predicts bots will dominate 2008. The number of computers infected by botnets will increase sharply in 2008. In an effort to become harder to detect, bot herders are changing their tactics and decentralizing via peer-to-peer architectures. They are also increasingly using instant messaging as their main vehicle for spreading botnets. They predict 2008 will also bring smarter malware. There are new levels of sophistication in malware. Malware will target virtualized computers and increasingly use obfuscation techniques to hide in plain sight. Social networking sites are also in the hackers' crosshairs. CA says social networking sites will become increasingly popular and, as a result, more vulnerable. The large number of aggregated potential victims and relatively small concern for computer security make these sites a potential windfall for cyberthieves. Along with social networks, web 2.0 services and sites will come under targeted attacks. While it is relatively easy to implement web 2.0 services, it can be quite challenging to configure them to be totally secure. Therefore, many internet sites using these services become easy targets, with little outward indication that a site is compromised. Finally, Windows VIISTA will be at greater risk: twenty vulnerabilities were reported in the operating system in 2007, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. As more people use it, CA predicts more attackers will target it.

(CIO 11MAR08)

Last Modified: Saturday, 29-Mar-2008 19:25:20 EDT