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Cybercriminals Targeting Critical Infrastructure
Mike Sachoff
Staff Writer
2010-02-11
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Critical infrastructure such as energy, pharmaceutical and government assets are more than twice as likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than other organizations, according to a new report by ScanSafe.
 | | Cybercriminals Targeting Critical Infrastructure |  |
ScanSafe found organizations that control the most valuable intellectual data are encountering malware at much greater rates than other verticals. The report highlighted the verticals most at risk:
1. Energy & Oil with a 356% greater rate of direct encounters with data theft trojans;
2. Pharmaceutical & Chemical with a 322% greater rate;
3. Government with a 252% greater rate;
4. Banking & Finance with a 204% greater rate.
"There is a misconception that cybercriminals are only intent on stealing data intended for credit card fraud and identity theft. In reality, cybercriminals are casting a much wider net," said Mary Landesman, senior security researcher at ScanSafe.
"Consumer credit card details are child's play compared to the value of infrastructure and intellectual data from these sensitive verticals. The message is clear - cyberwar is already here. The Web is the battlefield and the enterprise is on the frontlines."
In addition, the report found malware more than doubled in 2009. At the start of the year, the average enterprise experienced 8 malware encounters each day. By the end of 2009, the rate of exposure had more than doubled to 19 encounters per day. Twenty-three percent of those encounters were with zero day malware undetectable by signature-based methodologies and nineteen percent were direct encounters with data theft trojans.
About the Author:
Mike is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.
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