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Kaspersky Warns of Android 'Drive-By Download' Attacks By Jennifer LeClaire December 6, 2012 11:17AM     Kaspersky Labs noted that 2012 has been the year of explosive growth in mobile malware, with cybercriminals' primary focus being the Android platform because it is the most widely used. In 2013 Kaspersky predicts the likelihood of a new alarming trend -- the use of vulnerabilities to extend "drive-by download" attacks on mobile devices.   Related Topics Kaspersky Labs Sophos Android Cyber Terrorism Cyber Espionage Cybercriminals Latest News What's in Store for Apple's iOS 7? 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 Days after Sophos issued its security trends report, Kaspersky Labs is following up with a report of its own. Kaspersky outlined what it sees as key security trends of 2012 and predictions of core threats of 2013. Kaspersky's most notable predictions for 2013 include the continued rise of targeted attacks, cyber-espionage and nation-state cyber-attacks, the evolving role of hacktivism, the development of controversial "legal" surveillance tools and the increase in cybercriminal attacks targeting cloud -based services. "In our previous reports we categorized 2011 as the year of explosive growth of new cyber threats. The most notable incidents of 2012 have been revealing and shaping the future of cyber security," said Costin Raiu, director of the Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky Lab. "We expect the next year to be packed with high-profile attacks on consumers, businesses and governments alike, and to see the first signs of notable attacks against the critical industrial infrastructure . The most notable trends of 2013 will be new example of cyber warfare operations, increasing targeted attacks on businesses and new, sophisticated mobile threats." Drive-By Android Hits Kaspersky noted that 2012 has been the year of explosive growth in mobile malware, with cybercriminals' primary focus being the Android platform because it is the most popular and widely used. In 2013 the firm predicts the likelihood of a new alarming trend -- the use of vulnerabilities to extend "drive-by download" attacks on mobile devices. What does this mean? According to Kaspersky, personal and corporate data stored on smartphones and tablets will be targeted as frequently as it is targeted on traditional computers. For the same reasons -- rising popularity -- new sophisticated attacks will be performed against owners of Apple devices as well. Ted Demopoulos, principal analyst at Demopoulos Associates, said Android is poised to become the new Windows when it comes to malware. "Android is an enormous target, just like Windows, and the enormous growth of mobile devices as compared to normal PCs means that it may surpass Windows in the not too distant future," Demopoulos told us. "Also, most Android devices do not sit behind the corporate firewall, do not run anti malware/anti virus, and the common practice of co-mingling business and user data means there is extreme danger ahead -- or enormous opportunity for attackers." (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 CommVault is a data and information management software company dedicated to providing organizations worldwide with a radically better way to manage data and information. Their unique Solving Forward philosophy allows them to deliver complete solutions with infinite scalability and unprecedented control over data and costs. Be among the first to experience Simpana 10 software. Click here now.  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

What's in Store for Apple's iOS 7? There's been talk recently that Apple's products are beginning to coast on their glorious past. So, with Apple's big Worldwide Developers Conference opening next month, speculation about iOS 7 is heating up.   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.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

U.S. Could Use Cyberattack on Syrian Air Defenses The Pentagon has cyberattack capabilities that allow the U.S. military to help blind Syrian air defenses without firing a shot -- abilities central to a debate over whether to intervene in the 2-year-old civil war.   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.

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