12/22/10
Finally Fast News: Holiday Malware Attacks on the Rise
In addition to preparing for holiday vacation time, many business leaders are bolstering security in preparation for holiday-themed scams, according to a recent study.
Skybox Security's survey of IT security managers in six countries found an overwhelming majority, 84 percent, expect cyber criminals to "step up their activities" during the holidays, exploiting an influx of online shoppers and less tech-savvy employees looking to procrastinate at work with holiday cheer on the web.
However, nearly as many who expect growth in holiday-themed cyber threats believe they have adequately protected their company's system. Eighty percent of respondents said they felt their organization will not be vulnerable to security threats during the spike in threats associated with the holidays. According to Gidi Cohen, Skybox Security CEO, other companies should follow suit and strengthen their antivirus resources.
"We see a growing awareness of the threat of cyber crime among IT and security personnel, who are implementing innovative tools to avoid attacks," Cohen said. "This year's survey offers important observations that can help any organization stay safe and secure during the holidays, and throughout the year."
Companies like Ascentive and Finally Fast offergreat solutions to many of the most pressing online security problems. Without adequate protection, everyone is in danger of malware attacks.
The survey also revealed some enterprise web security techniques businesses have relied on during the holiday season. Seventy-one percent of respondents said their company will use network configuration management tools, which were the most popular among respondents, to gather and analyze network data that can identify and patch vulnerabilities.
Firewall auditing and analysis tools were the second most commonly used protective solutions, cited by 68 percent of respondents. Another 58 percent of respondents said they will increase their reliance on risk assessment tools to predict areas in which they could be exploited, while 53 percent said they will use automated threat management tools.
The holidays bring about a number of security threats for businesses and consumers alike. In preparation for the holiday season, tech news provider CRN published a detailed list of the most dangerous holiday-themed web scams. As the threats ranged from online holiday cards to rogue shopping sites to fake customized Christmas ornament services, it seems web users are targeted in myriad ways while searching for content relating to the holidays.
To protect against the threats that exploit the online holiday spirit, the IT security administrators who responded to the Skybox survey offered a number of best practices for businesses to prevent a security issue or data leak at the hands of unsuspecting employees.
Prompting the growing reliance on configuration management solutions, understanding the network's configurations and establishing a baseline for security threats were at the top of the list of best practices during the holidays. Others included prioritizing risks and vulnerabilities, implementing automated tools and keeping employees informed of security policies and protocols.
For more information on how to combat holiday malware threats, please visit FinallyFast.com.
Related Articles
- Mobile apps downloads to skyrocket in 2010
- Report confirms kids spend a lot of time connected to the internet
- Phishing for personal info on Social Media sites keeps users on guard
[ Back to Blog » ]