IM threats continue to rise
Internet Week reports that there has been a marked increase in IM threats. This has been a trend all through the year, and does not seem to be abating at present - the threat registers as 7 out of 10.
Security firm Akonix reports that May saw 51 new IM and P2P threats - that’s double than we saw earlier in the year, and it’s on the rise.
“As we’ve seen since the beginning of the year, IM networks have been on the receiving end of an unprecedented barrage of security attacks,” said Francis Costello, Akonix’s chief marketing officer, in a statement. “Virus writers, hackers, and scammers are becoming more sophisticated in their approach to vulnerable, insecure IM clients and networks, distributing not just viruses and malware, but putting together blended attacks and phishing scams.”
In specific, Akonix saw 7 of those new IM threats specifically attacking MSN Messenger (Kelvir worm), and 6 attacking AIM (Opanki worm).
Akonix keeps an up to date list of IM threats on their website, gathering information as it comes in from Microsoft, Yahoo, IBM and Symantec.
Recent Entries
- Yahoo! offers phone via instant messaging
- FaceTime Secures Instant Messaging For Distance Learning University
- Yahoo Messenger Integrates VOIP
- Mobile IM for Skype
- New Botnets Utilizing Instant Messaging
- Secure Developers Portal for Instant Messaging Bots
- ScanSafe Intros IM Security Management
- SIP Unified Communications Is All the Buzz
- Akonix Rolls Comprehensive Instant Messaging Security Bundle
- Microsoft Messenger for Mac 5.1