TrustDefender predicts 2011 as 'year of malware attacks'

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 16 December 2010 16:08

Business IT - Security

Australia's financial, transactional and global IT security colossus, TrustDefender, warns that while 2010 was 'the year of cybercrime', 2011 will see the trend get worse - and more specific - as the 'year of malware attacks'. Take cover!

IT security companies are known to make predictions for the new year ahead at this time of the year, and TrustDefender is no exception, having branded '2010 as the year of cybercrime'.

Referencing data theft and internal breaches, the elements of cyber espionage within WikiLeaks and virus based cyber warfare, TrustDefender notes that businesses and governments around the globe have been affected through stolen intellectual property and illegal transactions.

Also referenced is a survey conducted earlier this year which found that, on average, 'businesses in the U.S spend $3.8 million alone coping with cyber attacks, with some organisations overtly inflicted with costs of up to $52 million. The UK is devoting more energy to understanding and developing weaponry (to the cost of £650 million) for cyber warfare, more than any other military area and in Australia 69% of adults having been subjected to cyber crime.'

TrustDefender's predictions for 2011 are that we will 'see a strong increase in cyber activity including malicious malware threats, stolen identities and data infiltration. The move of applications and work environments into the cloud, along with the growing use of mobile devices and online transactions, poses a growing risk to enterprises and makes individuals more vulnerable online.  Without adequate attention to online security, malware attacks will continue to become more sophisticated and targeted to take advantage of these channels.'

Ted Egan, the CEO and co-founder of TrustDefender says that:'We have seen a dramatic shift in the way criminals exploit and do business this year - everyone is now at risk. The evolution of IT infrastructure through Smartphone, USB, tablet devices and cloud computing integration has increased online vulnerabilities.

'Enterprises and end-users do not have the tools or key knowledge of real-time security to address these potential risks.  As we continue to rely on the internet throughout our daily lives, the need for real-time solutions is essential.

'The emergence of cyber warfare and cyber espionage foresees some dramatic threats to government protection. Stuxnet is just one example of the impact cybercriminals can have, with over 44,000 computers having been infected with the Stuxnet virus worldwide.

'The recent events around WikiLeaks address the need to protect personal and corporate data. For the first time governments around the world are listing cybersecurity at the top of their agendas', concludes Mr Egan.

So, what are TrustDefender's key predictions for malware advancements in 2011? Please read on to page two!