Online Criminals Increase Phishing Attacks

According to the most recent Internet Security Threat Report by Symantec, there has been a marked increase since the beginning of 2006 in the number of phishing attacks. The report found an 81% increase over the unique phishing messages that were detected in the last half of 2005.

Phishing involves the use of fraudulent e-mail messages made to look like they come from a legitimate source such as a financial institution in an attempt to get consumers to divulge personal data that can then be used for illegitimate purposes.

CNET News.com has more on the story.

Earlier Library Boy posts about phishing include:

• More IT security threats on the horizon (March 9, 2005)
• Phishing Resources (July 5, 2005)
• Legal Systems Can't Stop Cybercrime (July 7, 2005)
• The Fight Against Phishing Sites (October 18, 2005)
• How to Fight Phishing (October 31, 2005)
• New Website on Internet Scams and Fraud (November 23, 2005)
• Data Security - Year in Review 2005 (December 16, 2005)
• Report on Future Trends in Malware, Spyware, Viruses and Other Baddies (January 11, 2006)
• The Secrets of Why Phishing Scams Work (April 27, 2006)
• How People Get Duped by Phishing Attacks (July 3, 2006)