Attack Kits Control the Landscape
 The relative simplicity and effectiveness of attack kits has contributed to their increased use in cybercrime. These kits are now being used in the majority of malicious Internet attacks. For example, one major kit called Zeus poses a serious threat to small businesses. The main objective of Zeus is to steal bank account credentials. Unfortunately, small businesses have fewer safeguards in place to guard their financial transactions, making them a prime target for Zeus. The profitability of malicious code attacks using Zeus was recently illustrated by the September 2010 arrests of a ring of cybercriminals who allegedly used a Zeus botnet in the theft of more than $70 million from online banking and trading accounts over an 18-month period. As cyber attacks have become more profitable, the popularity of attack kits has dramatically increased. This, in turn, has led to increasingly robust and sophisticated kits. These kits are now often sold on a subscription-based model with regular updates, components that extend capabilities, and support services. Cybercriminals routinely advertise installation services, rent limited access to kit consoles, and use commercial anti-piracy tools to prevent attackers from using the tools without paying. For More Details See www.varindia.com |