Hackers continue to develop new ways to infiltrate computer systems, staying one step ahead of software providers by targeting an array of applications, according to a recent report from the SANS Institute Latest News about SANS Institute. Some 600 new Internet security Latest News about Security vulnerabilities were found by SANS during the first quarter of 2005, a 20 percent increase over the same period last year. The surge indicates a continuous assault by individuals aiming to cash in on software vulnerabilities.

"This is a multibillion-dollar industry, with well-funded hackers searching everywhere to discover vulnerabilities and exploit them for identity theft," said Alan Paller, head of SANS.

The most notable change in recent months, he said, is that the attacks have moved beyond the operating system to the programs that run on those platforms.