'Dirtiest' websites exposed!

2009/08/30

By Chandra Devi This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KUALA LUMPUR: Can a website promoting legal services be dirty? How about a site dedicated to food catering or electronics? It might come as a surprise to many Internet surfers, but some of the "dirtiest" websites are the more innocuous ones.

Computer security company Symantec's Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer 2009 report highlighted 100 sites with the most number of threats detected by the company's site ratings service, Norton Safe Web, as of this month.

While it comes as no surprise that 48 per cent of the "dirtiest websites" are those featuring adult content, the rest cover a myriad of topics. They include sites dedicated to legal services, electronics, food catering and figure skating.

Viruses are the most common threat, followed by security risks and browser exploits.

Symantec Asia Pacific and Japan consumer business unit vice-president David Freer said these sites represented the "worst of the worst" based on the number of threats detected.

"Our research shows that there has been exponential growth in the number of online threats. These threats are constantly evolving as cyber criminals look for new ways to target consumers' money, identity or assets.

"Based on our Internet Security Threat Report, most of the new infections last year occurred while people were surfing the Web," said Freer.

Symantec provides security, storage and systems management solutions to consumers and organisations.

Freer said all Internet users were potentially in danger.

"There are plenty of unsavoury websites out there. They will try to deceive you, steal your credit card numbers or passwords or even crash your computer.

"By the time you visit a web- site, it's usually too late. The damage has been done; you've been had."

Threats with a keystroke-logging capability -- which can be used to steal information such as online bank account credentials -- made up 76 per cent of threats to confidential information, up from 72 per cent in 2007.

Malaysia is the seventh top country hosting Web-based attacks in Asia Pacific and Japan.

Just for sharing. You may need to do this.

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents your office staff, your friend, everyone you meet.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.  If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.  The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.  Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.  Test it.  It should go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key chain.  It works if you park in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around...

After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.  And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot.  The alarm can work the same way there ....

This is something that should really be shared with everyone.  Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic.  Would also be useful for any other emergencies, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.  eg: A lady has suggested to her elderly husband that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him.  He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.