Knowledge is power when it comes to online security

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Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to protection against
online security threats. This is why Symantec Website Security
Solutions has created an easy-to-follow Malware Infographic
to raise awareness about the hazards posed by malicious software; and to
provide tips to avoid the pitfalls.

Online threats

Malware is malicious software which damages, disables or
disrupts computers and computer systems, usually to gain access to sensitive
material such as passwords and financial details; or even to gain control of
the computer itself.

It is a wide term that
covers not only computer viruses like Trojan horses (which pretend to be useful
software until after installation), worms (which replicate themselves and can
spread through people’s email address books) and spyware (which secretly records
and transmits the activities of a computer back to fraudsters).

Unfortunately, the number of malware attacks is increasing,
with Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report in April 2012 revealing it had
blocked more than 5.5 billion malware attacks in 2011, an 81% increase compared
to 2010.

Be informed, stay safe and share the knowledge

It also identified 403 million new variants of malware in
2011, a 41% increase on 2010.

Be informed, stay
safe and share the knowledge

According to the Malware

Infographic, 61% of malicious sites
which spread malware are just regular websites that have been compromised while
36% of websites scanned by Symantec are vulnerable to the risk of malware. This
makes the threats to businesses both difficult to identify and numerous.

However, the infographic also shows where the majority of
these malware threats come from as well as gives advice about how to exercise
precaution when online and receiving unsolicited emails; making it an
indispensible guide to help the savvy web user keep their computer and website malware-free.

One piece of advice outlined is to only share sensitive
information online where there is a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) padlock in the
browser’s address bar. The padlock means that a web user can be confident that
the website has up-to-date SSL Certificates, is
also protected with a strong encryption, assessed for vulnerability and scanned
daily for malware.

There are also handy links to share the infographic, either
through embedding it onto a business webpage to spread the message further, or via
Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn; so that family, friends and colleagues
can be armed with the information to protect themselves while they go online.
Symantec releases a regular Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) – next volume
to be released shortly. Keep an eye out for these in order to help you stay up
to date with key developments.