Cyber Crime to be 2013 Norm, Highlights Symantec

Symantec just released its 5 most important security threat expectations of the upcoming year 2013. The firm's foremost prediction: online crime will be the most common thing. Reportedly, during 2012, there's been widespread presence of highly destructive malicious programs such as Mahdi, Flame as well as Shamoon, wherein a couple of the programs were used in an entire cyber-spying assault against Iran from Israel and USA, writes The Washington Post. Thus, according to Symantec, these politically inclined assaults will expectedly be very frequent during 2013 too.

Moreover, increased assaults are anticipated targeting individuals as well as NGOs (non-government organizations) for instance people supporting political issues along with minority groups' members deliberating clashes. The kind of attack is presently observed when companies or individuals aggravate hacktivist groups.

The next most damaging threat predicted is 'ransomware.' According to Symantec, cyber-criminals, through the use of Internet payment modes, will apply force rather than flimflam for filching money from their victims. In the process, extortion techniques will become more destructive and harsher.

According to Kevin Haley, Director of Security Response at Symantec, during 2013, there'll be increasing utilization of commercial ransom screens, exploitation of targets' sentiments, along with utilization of techniques, which will make recovery more difficult following system compromise. This statement of Haley got published during the 2nd-week of November 2012.

Next on No.3, Symantec forecasts will be increased mobile adware widely referred to as 'madware.'

Thereafter according to the company, there'll be monetization of websites for social-networking, implying attacks by cyber-criminals for making members of the social networks surrender their money either via making them purchase fake stuff, or facilitate thefts of their payment credentials, or make notifications of fake gifts, as well as e-mails soliciting the users' private information.

Lastly, Symantec says that with consumers relying more-and-more on cloud and mobility, there'll be increased abuse by hackers within the stated realms. Since Android malware fast increased in 2012, there's expectation of its further increase into 2013 too. Wrong use of devices in corporate networks that utilize clouds will witness growing danger of personalized assaults and breaches into the devices' data, the security firm explains.

Related article: Cyber Attackers Move To Abandoned Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 12/6/2012