Code Attacks Increase on IM: So Let’s Pay More Attention, Can We?
by Russell Shaw
Instant Messaging security solutions provider Akonix Systems said Thursday that their Security Center Research facility tracked 36 malicious code attacks over IM networks in June.
These 36 attacks represent an 80% increase over threats identified in May.
The first half of 2007 yielded 206 IM threats, 79% more than the first six months of 2006.
New worms included Checkout, Impard, MSNHideOptions, Mubla and VB-DVQ.
The problem seems to be inattentiveness to IM security best practices.
Obviously with an intent to sell you Akonix’ security products but with a boots-on-the-ground security perspective that you should not ignore, Akonix vp-marketing Don Montgomery concurs.
“We continue to see businesses placing a high priority on email security but not on IM security,” Montgomery said in a statement. “Earlier this year, nearly all of the respondents to an Enterprise Strategy Group survey could name their email security provider, while almost half could not name their primary vendor for IM. In addition, nearly 30% did not have an IM security solution in place. IM is increasingly becoming a standard medium for internal and external business communications, and demands the same level of day-to-day risk management and policy enforcement as email.”
