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Hackers thwart security by going small |
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Source: globeandmail.com - Posted by Pax Dickinson
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Computer attackers are trying to circumvent improved defences in corporate networks by creating smaller worms and viruses that infect individual computers, says a report on Internet security to be released today.
Instead of launching large assaults that receive global publicity, hackers have shifted their focus to more customized attacks that bypass traditional firewalls and intrusion detection systems through Web-based software, according to Symantec Corp.'s semi-annual Internet Security Threat Report.
The number of viruses and worms affecting machines running the standard Windows platform from Microsoft Corp. increased 48 per cent to 10,866 in the first six months of the year, says Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec, which makes the Norton anti-virus software and other security products.
Generally, malicious code is becoming smaller and modular so that when it strikes a computer it initially has very limited functionality. Once installed, though, it can download additional code and start doing significant damage, said Michael Murphy, senior vice-president of Symantec Canada.
Read this full article at globeandmail.com
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