Mobile threats set to rise faster: McAfee
By agencies   |   Friday, 23 December 2005, 20:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Anit-virus maker McAfee Inc warns there will be a significant rise in the number of global mobile threats in 2006. According to the company's R&D lab - AVERT Labs - mobile malware has grown almost 10 times faster than personal computer malware over the last year, mainly due to the proliferation of smart phones. The ‘McAfee AVERT Labs’ 2006 Threat Forecast’ informs that users are less interested to install security on their mobiles. However, creators of mobile malware have learnt to create sophisticated threats that will provide them with financial gain. It also recorded a 40 percent increase in potentially unwanted programs (spyware), and an increase in Trojans, particularly password-stealers, bots and backdoors. Misuse of commercial software by malware with remotely controlled deployment of adware, keyloggers and remote control software is on the rise, said the report. McAfee predicts an increase in distributed phishing Trojans — Trojans that turn an infected computer into a phishing Web site and then spam others to go to that infected machine or site.

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