Security - CIOInsight
Home arrow Security arrow Cyber Crime Trends: Cisco's 2010 Annual Security Report

Security Slideshow:
Cyber Crime Trends: Cisco's 2010 Annual Security Report

By Jennifer Lawinski on 2011-01-31


The volume of spam decreased last year for the first time in the history of the Internet, according to Cisco’s 2010 Annual Security Report. And, while spam may be less of a menace than it used to be, cybercriminals and hackers have taken up new targets. They’ve shifted their focus from Windows PCs to other operating systems and mobile platforms such as smartphones and tablets. In addition, incidences of “money muling” scams have grown. Users are also still vulnerable to the many ways these cybercriminals attempted to lure them into traps. This is creating new security challenges for CIOs struggling to adapt to the evolving security landscape while dealing with tight budgets. “Miscreants are continuing to find new and creative ways to exploit network, system, and even human vulnerabilities to steal information or do damage," says said John N. Stewart, vice president and chief security officer of Cisco. "The challenge is that we need to block their exploits 100 percent of the time if we are to protect our networks and information. They can be right once; we have to be right all of the time. We need to be ever-vigilant in our efforts to protect our assets, information, and ourselves online.” Here we take a look at key findings from Cisco’s report to reveal what you need to know about today’s security ecosystem.

LATEST STORIES

BLOGS
 
  • of

The End of Spam?

2010 was notable for the first-ever annual drop in global spam volume. Upticks were experienced in developed countries that have growing broadband access, such as the U.K., France and Germany.

The End of Spam?

Former spam targets like Brazil, China and Turkey experienced spam decreases due to high-profile takedowns of botnets like Waledac and Pushdo/Cutwail and ISP intervention.

Money Muling

Cybercriminals are gaining access to financial information all the time, and the need for mules to help funnel this money is growing. Mules set up accounts—or even use their own— to help criminals launder money.

Money Muling

These operations are growing increasingly sophisticated and are expanding on an international level. Cisco experts say money mules will be a major focus of cybercriminals in 2011.

Trust Exploitation

Cybercrime isn’t always about technology exploits. Your employees’ trust is easy to manipulate in social engineering scams.

Trust Exploitation

Whether by e-mail, chat or through social networking, cybercriminals exploit victims’ “seven deadly weaknesses”1.sex appeal2.greed3.vanity4.trust5.sloth6.compassion7.urgency

Beware

Based on data from 2010, Cisco predicts data-theft Trojans, Web exploits and money mules will become more common in 2011than they were in the prior 12 months.

Not Yet a Major Threat

Social networking scams will not be a major focus for cybercriminals in 2011. These remain a potential threat particularly as small parts of broad plans, such as Trojan attacks.

Moving Beyond Windows

After a decade of PC cyber-exploits focusing on the ubiquitous Windows operating system, improved security and aggressive vulnerability patching have made these less interesting targets than other, growing platforms.

Mobile Threats Rise

Mobile devices running on iOS and Android, and third-party mobile applications are becoming a serious threat vector.

  • More slideshows

FEATURED SPONSORED VIDEOS

FEATURED SPONSORED ARTICLES

Erasable E-Paper Saves Trees, Cuts Costs

Why Smart Companies Should Adopt the Lessons of Gaming

Interest in Mobile WiFi Hotspots Fuels New Solutions

A Closer Look at Public Cloud Security

View More Articles

  Brought to You By
Click Here



 

Advertisement

Sponsored Links
  • Try Windows Azure free for 90 days

  • Introducing the world's first family of systems with integrated expertise

  • FREE Securing Smartphones & Tablets for Dummies Book from Sophos
  • 77% of the Fortune 500 Manage Content Securely with Box.
  • Leverage your virtual computing environment with Dell.
  • Build an IT Infrastructure That Delivers the Future
  • 5 New Technologies That Will Change Enterprise ITAdvertisement
  • eWEEK Quick LInks

     
    Close this advertisement