Watch out for security in 2008, if you purchased Vista

Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system will face increasing security threats, according to McAfee Avert Labs predictions for top 10 security threats in 2008. With security vulnerabilities doubling in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) this year, McAfee expects a 50 per cent increase in VoIP-related threats in 2008. The technology is still new and defence strategies lagging.

Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Avert Labs and product development, said, “Threats are moving to the web and newer technologies such as VoIP and instant messaging. Professional and organised criminals drive a lot of the malicious activity. As they become increasingly sophisticated, it is more important than ever to be aware and secure when traversing the web.”

The report points out that web 2.0 applications such as software-as-a-service, social networking sites and job sites represent a new trend in online attacks. Attackers are using Web 2.0 sites as a way to distribute malware and are data mining the web, looking for information that people share, to give their attacks more authenticity. Attack through instant messaging is another threat that is on the horizon.

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