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Are you ready for the attack?

The new age viruses can steal, lie, deceive and destroy your vital data even before you know it, writes K. Jeshi

UNWELCOME VISITORS Worming their way into your PC PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

With Internet becoming the lifeline for all those who are isolated geographically, socially or mentally, instant messengers or chat channels are proving to be their best friends. An instant message allows people to connect on the web, share experiences, empathise and live that moment. So where is the catch?

Vulnerability. Instant Messengers (IMs) are vulnerable to a whole lot of virus attacks and if you are unaware of this, your PC and vital information could be doomed!

"Many of the things that make instant messaging useful also make it risky," says Vishal Dhupar, managing director of Symantec India in an e-mail interview from Hong Kong. "Along with traditional Internet threats like destructive viruses and worms, spim (the name given to spam sent over instant messages) is also on the rise. Spammers now target IM to spread their poison. Some spim can contain offensive language or links to web sites with content inappropriate for children," he adds.

There's also a new breed of mass-mailing worms that use IM's most basic features to distribute themselves to all the members on the buddy list. Your friends might think they are receiving a message from you, but in reality, it is a germ generating the message.

The ninth volume of the Internet Security Threat Report (for the period July to December 2005) released by the security player Symantec, the maker of Norton Anti-Virus also marks an increase in threats designed to facilitate cyber crime. "Cyber crime has many facets and occurs in a variety of scenarios, using a variety of methods. As more people have access to technology, criminals use it for nefarious purposes. So, it's not that only traditional hackers and virus writers are becoming `cyber criminals' but that the number of criminals in the computer user population is also increasing," Vishal adds.

Cyber crime related threats are gaining momentum through the use of crime ware, software tools built with the purpose of committing online scams and stealing information from consumers and businesses. So, attackers now focus their efforts on regional targets, desktops, and web applications that may allow them to steal corporate, personal, financial, or confidential information; this information could then be used for additional criminal activity. Programmes that provide attackers with unauthorised control of a computer, known as bots, also contribute to the rise in cyber crime threats.

Vishal says passwords are the virtual keys to some of our most valuable information assets. "They keep the personal data private, protecting your desktop applications, email boxes, and online shopping accounts. Since they have become so common, so much a part of our daily lives, we treat them with casual indifference, which should be avoided," he adds. The Symantec report also points out an increase in modular malicious code threats that often expose confidential information that can then be used in identity theft, credit card fraud, or other criminal financial activities. "Attackers and cyber criminals will be able to perform virtually any function on the system, including remote access, the theft and transmission of confidential information, and the installation of additional security risks such as ad ware and spy ware," he adds.

As organisations adjust their security measures in response to the changing threat landscape, attackers continue to look for new methods and tactics to avoid detection. "Phishing (pronounced fishing) threat, traditionally conducted by e-mail scammers to lure consumers into providing their personal and financial information online is now targeting new delivery mechanisms such as IM networks," he adds.

With the increase in computer usage, users are getting concerned about protecting their investment. "Though awareness of PC security is mounting, consumers do not have much knowledge of security technology. The IT industry estimates that more than 40 per cent of personal computers worldwide are not adequately protected. One hour of unprotected surfing can pick up hundreds of uninvited software visitors, some of them malicious. Protecting yourself from these threats and annoyances requires a combination of common sense, vigilance and a few key security tools," says Vishal.

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