Analysts: 2010 will see surges in Windows 7 malware and application exploits
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sweden-based computer security firm Lavasoft predicts that trends in the creation and deployment of malware will change in 2010, toward newer models of cyber crime.
The release of Windows 7 will cause a large-scale shift in the production and distribution of malware, which overwhelmingly tends to target Microsoft products because of their widespread use. New versions of Windows require new versions of malware, to better target the incautious enterprise users that are the bread-and-butter victims of cyber criminals.
However, non-Windows operating systems could also become targets, since the increasing use of systems like Ubuntu makes them more viable targets for malware infections. Lavasoft also says that the scareware rogue anti-virus software will continue to be a common type of online scam, bilking victims out of hard cash in return for a bogus product.
Besides the basic operating system, Lavasoft says that applications will also become prominent targets for malware distribution, as they seek out exploits in seemingly innocuous programs that allow them to remotely hijack data security systems and administrative credentials.
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