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Instant-Messaging Attacks On the Rise

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the no-shock-here dept.

Ant writes "CNET News.com and ZDNet News report that security attacks over instant-messaging (IM) networks became more prevalent in 2005, according to a new study. MSN experienced the largest number of IM security incidents in both 2004 and 2005, while year-on-year incident growth rates were largest on AIM."

4 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Obvious by heavy+snowfall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Obvious, they go to where the easy targets are. As a plus: When you infect a computer connected through AOL the chance of discovery and subsequent removal is smaller. How many granny's on AOL run a firewall+spybot+antivirus etc?

  2. Re:Am I the only one who hasn't noticed it? by arachnoprobe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think it also depends on your buddy-list. The demographical variation in a buddy-list of your average John Doe or Grandma Doe should be very different from someone posting here on slashdot.

  3. Mobile phones by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is going to cause more and more of a problem not just for Joe Average PC user, but for the growing numbers of people with IM capability on their mobile phones and other devices, where using a clean third-party client is not an option, and where many plans still charge by the message.

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  4. It's easy enough to see why... by Torinir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    IM applications are hot attack vectors.

    1. Most instant messenger applications are client dependant. You need YIM/AIM/MSNM clients to talk to others on those IM networks, unlike client independant networks such as IRC.

    2. IM programs store contact lists much like a standard email client. Easy to read, exploit and spread.

    3. Most IM programs enjoy a high degree of popularity. Higher user counts = faster spreading.

    It's probably why I avoid IM programs like the plague.