User education key to IT security: Microsoft

With the release of its latest Security Intelligence Report, Microsoft is encouraging its partners and customers to become more security aware and educated, as new attack tactics are on the rise.

Mohammad Akif, national security and privacy lead for Microsoft Canada, said the biggest change observed in the latest report is that organized crime is taking on more of an active role, with hackers now changing their attack tactics. "The biggest increase is with fake security software," Akif said. "Hackers are becoming sophisticated in how they're sending out viruses that look like security software."

Used over the Web, it's called Rogue security software and is a set of viruses and spyware that's sold as security software and is usually advertised to users as a free trial. Once installed on a user's computer, it can then be used to monitor behaviour, purchasing patterns and other confidential information.