Online crims target networking sites

Published: 4:08PM Wednesday April 09, 2008 Source: AAP

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Social networking websites are fast becoming a key target for online fraud, according to a new report.
  
The latest Symantec Internet Security Threat Report for the second half of 2007 reveals there were 87,963 "phishing hosts" for that period, an increase of 167% from the first half of 2007.
  
Phishing hosts act as fake websites, collecting information including login and password details from unsuspecting users.
  
Symantec Australia managing director Craig Scroggie said social networking websites were a treasure trove of personal data, listing information such as birthdate, location and employment history.
  
"(Users of these) websites are putting up a large amount of confidential information that is being used for fraudulent activity and financial gain," Scroggie said.
  
Personal information was collected and sold on the internet black market, for as little as $US1 ($NZ1.25).
  
"We're starting to see the area mature significantly," Scroggie said.
  
He added that some people used the proceeds of these sales to fund further attacks.
  
"People are employing programmers dedicated to the production of those threats," Scroggie said.
  
While the report found most attacks continued to occur in the United States, the source of most malicious code such as computer viruses and worms was China.
  
"Russia was implicated in the widespread distribution of malicious code over the last couple of years. That dropped off in 2007," Scroggie said. "But they have recently re-emerged in China."
 
Scroggie said the spread of malicious code was expected to increase, with the growing use of portable data storage devices.
  
"There is an increased security threat from portable media devices, whether it be a USB flash drive or a MP3 player," he said.
  
Symantec's 13th Internet Security Threat Report was based on data collected from more than 40,000 sensors deployed in more than 180 countries.

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