Cyber threats evolve in 2013

Cyber threats including phishing attacks and mobile malware evolved in 2013, placing Australian businesses and consumers at increasing risk of having personal and financial data stolen, according to a Trend Micro report.

Online banking malware more than doubled in Australia over the course of 2013, the report states, while New Zealand volumes increased by 227%. The year also saw a 65% increase in the number of botnet command and control servers operating in Australia.

Use of other financial threats such as ransomware also increased and evolved throughout the year, with one of the most prominent examples being the Cryptolocker trojan.

The year also saw a sizeable increase in both volume and sophistication of mobile threats, with more than 1.4 million malicious and high-risk apps identified throughout the year. Security researchers also demonstrated that Apple’s App Store is vulnerable to malware delivery.

Personal privacy also became a recurring issue in 2013 as aggressive phishing attacks emerged targeting personal information under the guise of new product launches such as the new generation of game consoles.

“Last year encompassed major security breaches, increased malware and mobile threats that impacted people of all walks of life around the world,” Trend Micro Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Sanjay Mehta said.

“Now, more than ever, consumers and corporations alike must be diligent in understanding their vulnerabilities, and what should be done from a security perspective to better protect personal data and guard against compromised privacy.”

Pictured: Trend Micro Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Sanjay Mehta.