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PRESS RELEASE
Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Reveals Increase in Cyberespionage – Including Threefold Increase in Small Business Attacks
Release includes Top 30 countries in Africa in terms of their internet security threat profile
Top 30 countries in Africa in terms of their internet security threat profile: http://www.apo-mail.org/symantec/World-&-Africa-Rankings-Chart.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/symantec-1.png
Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=477 (Sheldon Hand, Territory Manager, Indian Ocean Islands, West and Central Africa, Symantec)
“This year’s ISTR shows that cybercriminals aren’t slowing down, and they continue to devise new ways to steal information from organizations of all sizes,” said Sheldon Hand, territory manager, Indian Ocean Islands, West and Central Africa, Symantec. “The sophistication of attacks coupled with today’s IT complexities, such as virtualization, mobility and cloud, require organizations to remain proactive and use ‘defense in depth’ security measures to stay ahead of attacks.”
ISTR 18 Key Highlights Include:
Small Businesses Are the Path of Least Resistance
Targeted attacks on businesses with fewer than 250 employees are growing. Small businesses are now the target of 31 percent of all attacks, a threefold increase from 2011. While small businesses may feel they are immune to targeted attacks, cybercriminals are enticed by these organizations’ bank account information, customer data, intellectual property and the knowledge that they often lack adequate security practices and infrastructure.
Manufacturing Sector and Knowledge Workers Become Primary Targets
Shifting from governments, manufacturing has moved to the top of the list of industries targeted for attacks in 2012. Often by going after manufacturing companies in the supply chain, attackers gain access to sensitive information of a larger company. In addition, in 2012 the most commonly targeted victims of these types of attacks were knowledge workers (27 percent) with access to intellectual property and those in sales (24 percent).
Mobile Malware Put Consumers and Businesses at Risk
In 2012, mobile malware increased by 58 percent, and 32 percent of all mobile threats attempted to steal information, such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Android’s market share, its open platform and the multiple distribution methods available to distribute malicious apps, make it the go-to platform for attackers.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Symantec Corporation.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jacky Freer
Symantec Corp.
+971 55 300 6106
Aïssatou Diallo
African Press Organization - APO
+41 22 534 96 97
NOTE FOR JOURNALISTS
Resources: http://www.apo-mail.org/symantec/Resource%20Page%20English.pdf
About Symantec
Symantec (http://www.symantec.com) protects the world’s information, and is a global leader in security, backup and availability solutions. Our innovative products and services protect people and information in any environment – from the smallest mobile device, to the enterprise data center, to cloud-based systems. Our world-renowned expertise in protecting data, identities and interactions gives our customers confidence in a connected world. More information is available at http://www.symantec.com or by connecting with Symantec at: http://go.symantec.com/socialmedia.
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