Internet Security Attacks Rising
CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Internet security attacks against businesses and other organizations rose in 2004, according to Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report, which tracked security incidents worldwide from July 1 to December 31 last year. The report showed organizations saw an average of 13.6 attacks a day, up from 10.6 in the previous six months. There were more than 7,360 new Windows-based viruses and worms last year, up 64 percent over the first six months.

The financial services industry was the hardest hits among all sectors. Financial gains seemed to drive this trend, as malicious code developers and hackers teamed up with criminal organizations to retrieve sensitive user information through phishing scams and to control personal computers through bot programs.

The United States, with 38 percent share, was the top country of origin for attacks detected by Symantec sensors in the financial sector worldwide. China and South Korea, with 7percent and 5 percent, respectively, were the second and third highest sources of attacks against the global financial sector.

The hi-tech sector was the second most frequently attacked industry worldwide, while health care ranked third, according to the Symantec report.

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