Instant messaging helps spread viruses: report
Internet viruses and worms are more frequently using popular instant messaging to spread, thus causing greater damage quicker, according to a report on web security threats.
In a report released Wednesday, computer security company Symantec says it has seen a 400 per cent increase in viruses using these so-called peer-to-peer communication applications. Along with the speed of transmission, hackers are learning from their mistakes and creating more efficient viruses, Al Huger, Symantec's senior director in Calgary, said Tuesday.
"Frequently, if you're infected by one of these websites that you go through, you won't know that you've been infected," said Huger. "And someone just uses your computer as a launching pad to break into other computers.
"By the time that you do know that you've been infected, or broken into, a significant number of things have happened that are probably bad for you."
Huger also said new worms and viruses are showing a "definite and significant trend" towards theft and crime.
