(16-Dec-09) Social networks are going to become a prime target for cybercriminals in 2010, according to security predictions from annual security reports released this month by CA Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Symantec Corp.
A prediction list gathered from Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) and another list issued by Websense Inc. also anticipate increased threats on or towards major social networking sites.
Social networks was the only prediction highlighted by all five sources, but increased use of search engine optimization (SEO) attacks, shorts URLs and malvertising, as well as an upcoming focus on smartphones and the Mac OS X platform, were also noted on multiple accounts.
Unique predictions include a potential cryptographic algorithm break, botnet turf wars, attacks on voting mechanisms for elections and reality shows, a major utility breach in the U.S. and hijacked computers held for ransom.