SECURITY
Malware attacks jump 44 percent
08-02-2008
by Emmet Ryan
Malware attacks are on the rise in Ireland, according to a new report by the Microsoft Malware Protection Centre.
The Dublin-based body's study found that the number of malware attacks on Irish computers rose in the first six months of 2007. Windows Defender detected 166,522 incidents during that time, a 44 percent increase over the previous six months.
This increase reflects concerns Conor Flynn, technical director of IT security firm RITS, aired to ENN last year about a potential increase in malicious attacks on Irish computers. Following this latest report Flynn told ENN that e-mail users need to be more wary of the messages they receive.
"They put a lot of credibility in e-mails that appear to come from reliable sources," said Flynn. "There's also the element that people always want something for nothing, such as low-price medications. Users should be sceptical of the e-mail they receive, if it looks too good to be true then it is too good to be true."
Flynn's warning comes as the level of threats facing Irish computer users looks set to rise even further. Microsoft predicts that 2008 will see an increase in e-mail and instant messaging-related fraud as well as electronic greeting card scams. The IT giant also expects that criminals will try and capitalise on major events such as this year's Olympics and the US Presidential Election.
"With the Olympics they will target people looking for hotel rooms or tickets, things that are in short supply or hard to get," said Flynn. "The US election will likely see malware sent around through spam messages promising people that clicking on a link will aid a candidate. It's social engineering by lulling people into believing they are helping people."
Microsoft expects social engineering attacks to increase this year with cyber criminals using techniques to manipulate people into performing actions or divulging confidential information.
"Criminals are always trying new ways to access information or money from consumers," Maurice Martin, Business and Marketing Operations director at Microsoft Ireland. "In general we advise householders to keep their firewall turned on, keep their software up-to-date and use anti-virus and anti-spyware software."
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