[Report] Cyber Attack Toolkits Dominate the Internet Threat Landscape

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BANGALORE, India, – Jan. 19, 2011 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the findings of its report on Attack Toolkits and Malicious Websites.

The study reveals that as attack kits become more accessible and relatively easier to use, they are being utilized much more widely. This has attracted traditional criminals who would otherwise lack the technical expertise into cybercrime, fueling a self-sustaining, profitable, and increasingly organized global economy.


What are Attack Toolkits ?

Attack toolkits are software programs that can be used by novices and experts alike to facilitate the launch of widespread attacks on networked computers. These kits enable the attacker to easily launch numerous pre-written threats against computer systems. They also provide the ability to customize threats in order to evade detection, as well as automating the attack process.

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Symantec report found attack kits evolving cybercrime to economic model worth millions:

Attack Kits Control the Landscape:

The relative simplicity and effectiveness of attack kits has contributed to their increased use in cybercrime— these kits are now being used in the majority of malicious Internet attacks.

For example, One major kit called Zeus poses a serious threat to small businesses.  The main objective of Zeus is to steal bank account credentials; unfortunately, small businesses have fewer safeguards in place to guard their financial transactions, making them a prime target for Zeus.

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