In Pictures: Kaspersky Lab 10th Annual Press Tour

Kaspersky Lab researchers reveal the latest threats we all need to watch out for

Tanase gave an overview of how Web 2.0 and has affected cyber crime. Over the past year, there has been a surge of attacks on sites such as Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. Cyber criminals divert traffic from social networks to Web sites that host malicious content. Furthermore, applications like those found on Facebook can contain malicious code. Tanase criticised the companies involved with Web 2.0 enterprises for not being security aware, citing a breech in Twitter's administration as an example. Cyber criminals are also scamming Web 2.0 users via traditional methods. One example was a bogus tool that purportedly lets you access anyone's Facebook account for a fee of $50.

According to Kaspersky Lab's Global Research and Analytics Team, attacks through social-networking sites have a success rate of 10 per cent, compared to just 1 per cent for malicious e-mails. This is because users are more likely to click a link on a social-networking site than one in a spam e-mail.

In conclusion, Tanase said there was a need to educate end users about the emerging threat of Web 2.0 applications. Many users are simply unaware that they are vulnerable: "The 'human factor' is the main driver for these attacks... The most common problem with computers still lies between the screen and the chair."

8 of 17
VIEW ALL THUMBNAILS

Best Deals on PCWorld

Mobile PhonesView all »
NotebooksView all »
TabletsView all »
Printers & ScannersView all »
Networking, Wireless & VoIPView all »

rhs_login_lockSign up to PC World Today for the latest news, reviews and galleries from PC World Australia.