Malware used to be easy to detect and avoid. Virus writers would attach a malicious programme to an e-mail and distribute it as widely as possible. If any of the recipients opened the attachment, the virus could delete system and data files, search for confidential information and propagate itself on the local network. In those simple days, viruses were like vampires -- as long as you didn't invite them in, they couldn't do you any harm. If you refrained from opening e-mail attachments from strangers, then you were safe. . It's not that there has been any decrease in Nosferatu-type attacks in 2004. In fact, the number of e-mail borne viruses has continued to increase. According to MessageLabs, which keeps monthly statistics on the subject, one in sixteen e-mails carries a virus. The figures for Ireland are even more depressing, with one in 12 e-mails arriving in the average inbox carrying malware. But as the malware industry develops, the creators of viruses have found new ways to encourage users to participate in their own destruction. In particular, the incidence of the identity theft scam known as "phishing" has exploded over the past twelve months. With this scam, fraudsters send e-mails to users, purporting to be from their bank or e-mail provider. The user is requested to visit a website at which they will be asked to provide confidential bank account or credit card information, which is then misappropriated by the fraudsters. In September 2003, MessageLabs intercepted only 279 phishing e-mails. In November of 2004, the company intercepted more than two million and has intercepted more than 18 million over the course of the year. The company has also noted a new form of phishing e-mail, which is designed to capture online banking details when a user opens a mail, rather than when the user clicks on the URL links within the message. The link for this article located at electricnews.net is no longer available. . The 2021 analysis emphasizes a rise in ransomware attacks, data breaches,and the ongoing risk of digital fraud in online security.. Malware Threats, Phishing Attacks, Email Security, Virus Detection, Identity Theft. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
In a recently published report by managed e-mail security provider Message Labs, we can see a dramatical increase in e-mail borne viruses - ratio of virus infected emails to clean e-mails increased 84 percent to 1:33 against 1:212 a year ago.. . .. In a recently published report by managed e-mail security provider Message Labs, we can see a dramatical increase in e-mail borne viruses - ratio of virus infected emails to clean e-mails increased 84 percent to 1:33 against 1:212 a year ago. Viruses and worms received an enormous amount of media coverage during this year. The year started with a bang: the Slammer worm exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft SQL 2000 servers and hit the Internet, resulting as one of the biggest attacks to date. In January we saw the first version of now infamous worm - Sobig that used a built-in SMTP client and local Windows network shares to spread and inspired a number of new variants that wreaked havoc throughout 2003. February brought us a combination of a worm and a trojan called Lovgate. The next few months gave us a couple of inventive worms: Ganda was using Iraqi war as its social engineering method and Fizzer was replicating over e-mail, as well over the KaZaa peer-to-peer network. August was a truly destruction derby month - it featured all the great ones: Sobig F, Blaster, Welchi and Mimail spread rapidly. Since then there was a large number of copycat worms, using mostly well known replication methods. I've talked with some of the leading experts from the anti virus and data security industry, so beneath, you can see their views on the most important malware happenings in 2003, as well as their future scopes for the upcoming year. The link for this article located at net-security.org is no longer available. . In 2003, the rise of e-mail viruses marked a turning point, with notorious malware like the Sobig virus causing global chaos and urging improved cybersecurity measures. Email Malware,Cyber Threats,2003 Security Report,Virus Outbreak. . Anthony Pell
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