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Security Threats Diversify, Modernize, Sophos Report Warns By Jennifer LeClaire December 5, 2012 9:44AM     What was once a homogeneous world of Windows systems is now a landscape of diverse platforms, and modern malware is taking advantage of that, according to Sophos. Malware authors now attack Android devices more often than PCs. Nearly 10 percent of Android devices in the U.S. have seen a malware attack, compared with 6 percent of PCs.   Related Topics Security Malware Hacker Android Windows World Wide Web Latest News Reality TV's New Stars: Small Biz Soundbars Up the Ante on TV Sound Google Glass Raises Privacy Concerns Pentagon Gives iOS 6 Security OK Should Enterprises Skip Windows 8? Security threats are coming from all sides. Now Sophos is outlining some of them in its Security Threat Report 2013, which details IT security trends in 2012 and what to expect in 2013. As Sophos describes it, 2012 was a year of new platforms and modern malware. What was once a homogeneous world of Windows systems is now a landscape of diverse platforms. Modern malware is taking advantage of these trends, the security firm said, creating new challenges for IT security professionals. "Two of the defining terms of 2012 are 'empower' and 'evolve.' Attacks and threats -- on PCs, Macs and mobile devices -- continue to evolve as does the technology to combat them," said Gerhard Eschelbeck, CTO at Sophos. "As users demand more and better ways to do their jobs, IT continues to evolve, bringing forth a new set of operating systems and other advancements, replete with different security models and attack vectors, making it crucial for security technology to evolve, ensuring that end users are protected and empowered -- no matter what platform, device , or operating system they choose." Android Targeted Sophos also reports that malware authors now attack Android devices more often than PCs. Nearly 10 percent of Android devices in the U.S. have seen a malware attack, compared with only about 6 percent of PCs. We asked Michael Disabato, managing vice president of Network and Telecom at Gartner, for his take on the revelation. "Google Play is not curated as well as iOS. Android is designed to be a very flexible operating system so it's easy to root. Why do people rob banks? That's where the money is. Why are people going after Android? Because they can, because there's money in it, and because you can't get to iOS without a lot of work," Disabato told us. "Why aren't malware authors going after Windows? Windows gets defended just as quickly as possible. But very few people are installing malware detection and mitigation software on their smartphones." Beware Legitimate Websites Beyond smartphones, more than 80 percent of attacks were redirects, the majority of which were from legitimate Websites that were hacked, according to Sophos. Most of the exposure is still coming from clicking links in e-mails and browsing Web pages that are carrying malicious code. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  Next Page >   Tell Us What You Think Comment: Name: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com Stingray Traffic Manager on Amazon Web Services - Deliver Fast, Secure, and Available Applications. Looking to combine advanced load balancing with the application delivery features on Amazon Web Services? This process will allow you to run Stingray™ software on Amazon AWS using an Amazon account of your choice. Click here to view the complete range of Riverbed Stingray products on AWS.  Network Security 1.   Financial Times Latest Hacking Target 2.   Patch Tuesday Hyper Focuses on IE 8 3.   Investors Funding Cyberwarfare 4.   Bloomberg Admits Terminal Snooping 5.   $45 Million ATM Theft Sophisticated Financial Times Latest Hacking Target Syrian Electronic Army attacks site. Average Rating: Investors Funding Cyberwarfare As demand for tech security grows. Average Rating: Hacking Strains U.S.-China Relations As U.S. infrastructure is put at risk. Average Rating:

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Network Security Spotlight

Syrian Electronic Army Hacks Financial Times The Financial Times is the latest victim of the Syrian Electronic Army, a group that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.K.-based newspaper said a blog and its Twitter accounts were hacked.   Patch Tuesday Hyper Focuses on IE 8 Microsoft on Tuesday issued 10 security bulletins that fix 33 vulnerabilities. These updates include MS13-038, which will address the Internet Explorer 8 issue described in Security Advisory 2847140.   Surge of Venture Capital Buoys Tech Security Sector With companies and governments spending billions to repel cyberthreats, a surge of venture capital is pouring into companies developing cybersecurity technologies, the front line of the conflict.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

U.S. Defense Department Gives iOS 6 Security OK In a vote of confidence for Apple's iOS devices, the Defense Department has given the all-clear for employees to use iPads and iPhones for work. But only those running iOS 6, and only if issued by the government.   Cisco Surges After Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates Networking equipment giant Cisco's net income jumped 14 percent in the latest quarter as revenue at all four of its divisions rose for the first time in a year and a half, as tech spending increases.   HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.

Mobile Enterprise Spotlight

Google Glass Raises Congressional Privacy Concerns The buzz around Google Glass continues, but it's not all good. Some in Congress have questions. "We are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of average Americans," their letter to Google says.   Windows Phone Now No. 3 in Market, BlackBerry No. 4 Has Microsoft Phone moved into a coveted though distant third place for smartphone platforms behind Google's Android and Apple's iOS? A new report says yes, while BlackBerry has slipped to No. 4.   Intel Going Mobile with Its New CEO In his first speech as Intel's CEO, Brian Krzanich said he plans to focus on beefing up Intel's presence in mobility. The next step: a world tour showing mobile devices based on Intel chips, from PCs to phones and tablets.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.   Cloud Computing Gains Another Competitor with Google Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure now have a full-on rival in Google, with its I/O announcement that it is opening its hosted Compute Engine environment for virtual machines to all comers.   Hackers' New Tool of Choice: Smartphones Smartphones are increasingly popular not only with consumers, but with thieves who see the devices as another way to tap into bank accounts and other sensitive information, experts say.

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