Managed Hosting News 
Monday, 5th September 2011, 12:57:33
Internet security: Individuals 'should be cautious about unexpected emails'
Businesses and individuals alike have been urged to ensure their internet security priorities are at the forefront of their minds when they receive an unexpected email claiming to be from a friend or family member.
Rick Ferguson, director of security, research and communications for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Trend Micro, has urged members of the public to approach unfamiliar messages that are offering a prize with caution to prevent phishing attacks.
His comments emerge after antivirus software company McAfee reported a record amount of malware found in the second quarter of the year, with approximately 12 million unique samples recorded during the period.
As a result, the company predicted that this figure would reach 75 million cases by the end of the year, following a surge in cyber criminal activity on smartphones and other emerging technologies.
"I'd be tempted to say if someone you don't know is offering you something you didn't ask for just delete it out of hand - don't even bother reading it," Mr Ferguson suggested.
He also urged individuals and business employees to take a small part of their time to contact the person who has sent the invitation or email message in a bid to make sure it is safe to open and will not pose a threat to their online security.
Mr Ferguson explained: "What you might also be doing is alerting that person to the fact that their account has been compromised. What we do see a lot is compromised email or social networking accounts being used to attack friends."
The advice emerges after Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs, reported that overall attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which means threats could remain unnoticed for substantial periods of time.
In addition, the company revealed that malware targeted at Android devices soared by 76 per cent during the second quarter of 2011, which makes the brand the most attacked mobile operating system.
Posted by Phil Williams
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