Computers, despite being sophisticated machines, are vulnerable to attacks. Cyber criminals are constantly inventing new ways to invade computer systems — using spam, malicious Web content, spyware and botnets, among other techniques. Most computer-related crimes involve data alteration or destruction and theft of intellectual property.

 

Wikipedia’s entry for “cybercrime” notes that, according to a study done by Shirley McGuire (a specialist in psychologist from University of California), most hackers are teenagers who invade computer systems for fun or financial gain.

 

One of the most common annoyances associated with modern computing, and a very common way for attacks to be started, is spam or junk e-mail. According to recent research from Secure Computing Corporation, overall spam volume rose 280 percent from second quarter 2007 to second quarter 2008. More than 16 percent of all spam detected in this study originated in the U.S., and more than twice that amount comes from Russia, Secure Computing said.

 

The research also indicated that, during the second quarter of 2007, Secure Computing’s software located more than 300,000 “zombies” (computers accessed by hackers without the owner’s knowledge, and used for malicious purposes such as sending spam) per day. For second quarter 2008, that number was cut in half.

 

It’s hardly surprising to note that, as computer users become more sophisticated, educated and cautious about protecting themselves against such attacks, hackers have to become more cunning to succeed in their malicious goals.

 

According to Secure Computing’s research, the three most popular subject lines for spam e-mails have to do with “male enhancement” products, replica products, and prescription drug offers. Spammers are continuing to use pop culture and current event subject lines to entice users into opening junk e-mails or clicking on links. When users do this, they may be playing right into a hacker’s plans by launching maleware or spyware that invades the computer being used. Links to supposedly view video clips about breaking news are particularly successful in duping users into clicking.

 

While it isn’t possible to eliminate cybercrime, it is possible to use software that detects malicious activity and protects users against it. For individuals and businesses alike, the best protection is not legislation but rather education, cautiousness, and updated software that protects against spam and cyber attacks. A multi-layered approach to pre-emptively detecting and blocking attacks is most likely to succeed.