[LINK] Redirects to malware

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

80% of malware in 2012 were redirects from legitimate sites: Sophos

By Hafizah Osman (ARN)06 December, 2012 
<http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/443916/80_per_cent_malware_2012_were_red
irects_from_legitimate_sites_sophos/> (snip)


A recent Sophos threat report, Security Threat Report 2013, has found 
that 80% of malware attacks in 2012 were redirects from legitimate sites.

It said that 2012 was a year of new platforms and modern malware — what 
was once a homogeneous world of Windows systems is now a landscape made 
up of diverse platforms. 

According to Sophos, modern malware is taking advantage of these trends, 
creating new challenges for IT security professionals.

The study ranked the riskiest and safest countries for experiencing a 
malware attack.

Hong Kong topped the list as the most risky country, with a 23.5 per cent 
threat exposure rate. 

Taiwan, UAE, Mexico and India followed respectively with 21.3 per cent, 
20.8 per cent, 19.8 per cent and 17.4 per cent threat exposure rate.

Norway was named the safest country with a 1.81 per cent threat exposure 
rate. Sweden followed with 2.59 per cent; Japan with 2.63 per cent; UK 
with 3.51 per cent; and Switzerland with 3.81 per cent. 

Australia made it into the top 20 safest countries, ranking at 15.

Sophos predicts that in 2013, increased availability of malware testing 
platforms will make it more likely for malware to slip through 
traditional business security systems. 

Additional trends expected in the year ahead include an increase in basic 
Web server mistakes .. and a greater number of “irreversible” malware ..

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Cheers,
Stephen