Cyberwar
Computer hackers will open a new front in the multi-billion pound "cyberwar" in 2007, targeting mobile phones, instant messaging and community websites such as MySpace, security experts predict.
As people grow wise to email scams, criminal gangs will exploit new ways to commit online fraud, sell fake goods or steal corporate secrets.
"The attacks are becoming more sophisticated," said Dave Rand, of Internet security firm Trend Micro. "It's all about making money. And they're making a lot of it," he told Reuters.
In 2007, hackers will be scouring social networking sites such as MySpace to gather information for more targeted attacks on people's computers.
"It is definitely an area that is ripe for more exploitation by malware (malicious software)," said Ed English, Trend Micro's Chief Technology Officer for anti-spyware.
People could find their computers infected with viruses that secretly record all their keystrokes or send out millions of spam email messages.
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Source <a href="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=personalFinanceNews&storyID=2006-12-11T095105Z_01_NOA135212_RTRUKOC_0_BRITAIN-CYBERCRIME.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=∩=&sz=13&WTModLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1">here. <a href="http://hellboundhackers.org/profile.php?lookup=3858"><span style="color: orange;">Posted by tancurrom
Identity theft fraudsters will trawl through sites which allow people to leave their pictures and personal details.
Their research will help them to target "phishing" attacks, where people are sent fraudulent emails to trick them into revealing credit card numbers.
"It is way too easy for the spyware guys to put together a puzzle of who you are," English said.
Hackers will also target people using instant messaging services or making telephone calls over the Internet in 2007, Trend Micro said.
Powerful new mobile phones and portable computers will also be a target as thieves try to bypass tight security to steal emails, documents or contacts, security firm McAfee said.
"Modern mobile phones are in essence miniature portable computers," the company said in its annual crime report. "Mobile devices present a serious challenge."
A new version of the popular Web browser Internet Explorer released in November and Microsoft's new Vista operating system will also attract hackers, Trend Micro said.
McAfee warns that spying on businesses will become more sophisticated. Criminals are hiring undergraduates to plant as sleepers in companies and huge amounts of data can be removed on small, portable memory sticks.
"Corporate espionage is big business," its report says. "Data is often priceless property. Stealing trade secrets, information or contacts is a lucrative money-spinner for cybercriminals."
Security firms say Internet crime can be hard to combat because it takes place across different continents and time zones.
Criminals are attracted by the relative ease of making money, the speed and anonymity offered by the Internet.
"It beats taking a gun and walking into a 7-Eleven store," English said.
ghost
ghost 17 years ago
That's the coolest thing I've ever read..The h4x0rs are taking over the world!!! Mwahahaha lol xD
ghost 17 years ago
Well Cheesy it shouldn't be the coolest thing you've ever heard. These events will lead to more strict computer policies and more laws that will be passed that will make what we do illegal and wrong. All we have is a thirst fr knowledge, and this will be supressed with laws that keep us outside, without our computers and wires. We know that these events cannot be stoppe, exspecially things like corporate espionage. All we can do is pray and hold on to what we currently have at this time. :| .::ZTB::.
ghost 17 years ago
:/ I remember the good ol' days before I had email. Actually, they were kinda dark and scary days. Oh well. Back to writing good ol' fashioned letters :) though maybe writing a letter is not-so-efficient for posting comments… UNLESS we used our own central post office!! :D Actually, I think this is one of those times where I need to stop thinking.
ghost 17 years ago
ziggy..you take shit way too serious man..fuck the police..and the laws..hacking will live for ever. B)
ghost 17 years ago
fuck the police.. o thats a good one. i remember when i was a little rebel. youll learn that you cant fight the laws. you just have to put up with them. :P
ghost 17 years ago
Nah. You try to evade laws for as long as possible. In a situation where you find yourself confronted by the law, by all means, fight it. Just be prepared to lose.
Mr_Cheese 17 years ago
old news. every year they come out saying "omg criminals might start attacking websites or finding ways to commit crime online!!".. big deal. people are doing it all the time. nothing new, just journalists have nothing new to write about and figure they'll create a moral panic. and Echo… wtf are you on about? how old are you? grow up a bit. and ziggythebear… stop saying cheesy to everyone lol it confuses me!
ghost 17 years ago
hm….i learn the law in order to fight the law. Nothing like fighting law with law! I'd rather not just give up and saw, oh, i can't fight the law, so i'm going to turn my cheek and "put up with it."
ghost 17 years ago
I think that myspace definatly had something to do with this mainly because their name was in the list of targeted things so could it be a way for myspace to try and bluff a security increase?
ghost 17 years ago
I agree with nights_shadow. That is the only way. know the law to deal with the law. So many laws have little known loopsholes or are taking differently than meant. also a lot of "laws" aren't really laws at all. perhaps we should start a forum thread on this topic.
To know the law is how to, in Caity's words, "Evade" the law. you cannot actually beat them, atleast no on your own. they have: numbers, resources, and politics on their side. however, if a large enough group of intellegent, literate, well informed people started to go against, they would certainly loose.
I'm not saying go out and start a revolt, nor do I want to do anything Illegal. That's not my point. Rather, influence things to push humanity back into a good direction before we end up becoming the end of ourselves.
In Mr_Cheese's own words "hacking isn't just computers and exploits. It's a philosophy." This would be that philosophy. Using knowledge to overpower the corrupt. To lead by example. Not to get to "preachy" or "old world," but the idea that started America was to be "the city on a hill" and show the world the "right" way to be. Again, not saying we have to be right, but let's lead those in darkness into the light and prove that politicians, corrupt law enforcement, and closed minded people do not control all.
ghost 17 years ago
Echo… wtf dude… fuck the police? I understand that there are bad cops. I understand there are total fuck up douchebag cops. Thats no reason to go out and bash on cops in general. I have a couple close friends that hapen to be cops, they get no respect anymore cause of people like you, when they're the ones out each and every day putting their life on the line getting people off the street that could kill them/me/you/or anyone else. Yeah, "fuck the police", real mature
ghost 17 years ago
also, I do have an actual comment about the article, wonder who wrote this: "It beats taking a gun and walking into a 7-Eleven store," English said. No, it doesn't… maybe its "cleaner" or "less violent" or something, but learning how to hack is a skill that takes years to develop, and hacking for profit takes all kinds of effort, way more than it takes to get a gun and run in a 7-Eleven.