Infected attachments becoming obsolete
There has been a huge increase in attempts to infect users’ computers via links in emails, rather than attachments. In the beginning of 2007, the number of infections through links was a mere 3.3%, whereas now it has already grown to 35%.
The number one way hackers work is still through email, however, attachments have become outdated, because a rapidly growing number of users understand the risk they are taking, when downloading attachments (not to mention it being a hassle to download something they have no idea about). People still follow links, though, so hackers managed to ‘go with the flow’ yet again.
According to Paul Wood, a MessageLabs senior security analyst, the links found in spam mail lead users to malware downloads or sites that use malicious JavaScript. Often these sites are legitimate ones compromised by e-criminals, which is a perfect way to lure unsuspecting victims in to a trap. The malicious code then uses a browser exploit (or exploits) and installs rogue software such as Spyware or a Trojan on users‘ systems. These insidious infiltrations may ultimately lead to making a computer into a bot as well as other no more disirable consequences.
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