Cisco Publishes 2010 Annual Security Report

The good news is that Windows-based PCs are less prone to attacks from spammers and cyber criminals. But the bad news is that they are shifting their focus to other operating systems and platforms, including smartphones, tablet computers, and mobile platforms, states Cisco in its 2010 Annual Security Report.

PC platform and application vendors have shored up security in their products and taken a more aggressive approach to patching vulnerabilities in response to the last decade of cyber-exploits targeting PC operating systems, the company has stated in its report. Therefore, scammers are forced to look elsewhere to make money as they are now finding it harder to exploit Windows platform.

“Everyone knows the joke about the two hikers and the hungry bear in which the swifter hiker explains his footrace is not against the bear but the other hiker,” said Patrick Peterson, fellow at Cisco. “The cybercriminal bears have been feasting on the "slowest hiker" Windows platform for the last decade. But with increased security in the Windows operating system and applications, the bears are looking elsewhere to satisfy their hunger.”

2010 saw an uptick in spam in developed economies where broadband connections are spreading, the company stated. On the other hand, Brazil, China and Turkey — all of which figured high on last year's list of spammed nations — showed significantly lower volumes in 2010, the company reported. Also, there is a growing need for money mules as the cybercriminal economy expands and criminals gain access to even more financial credentials, the company has stated.

In December 2009, the company published an Annual Security Report for 2009, in which it stated that social media grew immensely during 2009 -- with Facebook’s active user base tripling to 350 million. As a result, Cisco (News - Alert) warned that cybercriminals have taken over social networks because members trust other members of their communities and do not take proper precautions to prevent the spread of malware and computer viruses.

To find out more about Cisco, visit the company at ITEXPO East 2011. To be held Feb. 2-4 in Miami, ITEXPO (News - Alert) is the world’s premier IP communications event. Carlos Torales of Cisco is speaking during “Vendor Panel: Responding to Today’s and Tomorrow’s Enterprise Requirements” and “The Next Generation of Voice over WLAN.” Don’t wait. Register now.