Internet Security Learning Center

Web Crooks Getting Quicker

Two recently released cybersecurity surveys indicate that hackers are becoming more profit minded and that Web attacks are now more targeted. More "zero-day" attacks are being carried out, which exploit new security vulnerabilities the same day the flaws become public information and weeks before patches are available, according to The SANS Institute security training center. These attacks are dangerous because security experts say there is no protection against them. "A zero-day attack takes you through the M&M shell you have around your computer into the soft chewy center," says Scott Carpenter, security lab director at Secure Elements. "It bypasses all the security you've put in place." The surveys also found that 78 percent of companies expose Social Security numbers in a way that the data can be leaked, while 40 percent of companies expose credit card numbers, according to Reconnex. Experts suggest that PC users should use strong passwords, install all software patches, and use anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software for the best protection against attacks.

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