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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
F-Secure Experts Map Out Future Malware Creation Hotspots
Images show e-crime evolution revealing Mexico, India and Africa as next
hotbeds of Internet crime
Most of today's Internet criminals are operating from Russia, China and
Southern America. Over the next five years, there will be a significant
increase in attacks from Central America, India, China and Africa, according
to a prediction from security specialists.
The researchers at F-Secure's Security Labs have mapped the shifts in
Internet crime trends since 1986. The three maps (images available at
http://www.f-secure.com/f-secure/pressroom/news/fsnews_20080117_1_eng.html)
depict how computer crime has evolved and show a shift from Europe and North
America to emerging markets.
1. The Past (1986-2003):
Old-school virus writers operating from areas in Europe, United States,
Australia and India.
Era characterised by opportunistic 'hobbyists' learning their craft.
2. Recent history (2003-2007):
Hobbyism replaced by professional, targeted attacks.
Malware creation hotspots growing in the former Soviet countries (such as
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia). Other major areas
of criminal activity are Brazil and China, which have large numbers of
individuals with sophisticated computing skills but without the job
opportunities to make a living for themselves in the IT sector. Online crime
often presents a more lucrative path to raising living standards for people
like these.
3. The Future (2008 onwards):
New e-criminal groups likely to appear in Mexico and Africa.
Internet crime becoming even more sophisticated with targeted attacks and
exploits. This is a result of the alignment between broadband penetration and
socio-economic factors such as economic development and lack of IT employment
opportunities.
Internet usage is growing fastest in Asia, followed by Africa. IT job
growth will be lacking behind, creating a breeding ground for online
criminals.
In many countries there will be a delay before the legal system catches up
with developments in the IT sector. Computer criminals may also be able to
escape the law more easily in countries which are undergoing serious
political and security problems.
Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, believes malware creation
hotspots are defined by a number of socio-economic causes - particularly in
terms of job opportunities.
"Within the last few years, Internet take-up in emerging markets has been
phenomenal. For example, Brazil now has over two million Internet users,"
says Hypponen. "And coincidentally, since 2003, computer crime has really
taken off in Brazil, China and the former Soviet countries."
"The trend is expected to continue and spread into areas such as Africa,
India and Central America," predicts Hypponen. "This is partly due to the
limited IT job prospects in these markets. People are developing
sophisticated computer skills, but have limited opportunities to profit from
them legally."
About F-Secure Corporation
F-Secure Corporation protects consumers and businesses against computer
viruses and other threats from the Internet and mobile networks. F-Secure's
award-winning solutions are available as a service subscription through more
than 160 Internet service providers and mobile operator partners around the
world, making F-Secure the global leader in this market. The solutions are
also available as licensed products through thousands of resellers globally.
The company aspires to be the most reliable security provider, helping to
make computer and smartphone users' connected lives safe and easy. This is
substantiated by the company's independently proven ability to respond faster
to new threats than its main competitors. Founded in 1988 and headquartered
in Finland, F-Secure has been listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki
since 1999. The company has consistently been one of the fastest growing
publicly listed companies in the industry. The latest news on real-time virus
threat scenarios is available at the F-Secure Data Security Lab weblog at
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/.
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