Online Social networks, new and possibly landscape-changing technologies from application to infrastructure level—like cloud computing, IPv6, and virtualization, are expanding the playing field of cyber criminals.

According to the 'Trend Micro 2010 Future Threat Report.' These challenges are propelled to a certain extent by cybercriminal efforts to obtain profit. It claims that cloud computing and virtualisation- while offering significant benefits and cost-savings- move servers outside the traditional security perimeter increasing the risks. The industry already witnessed Danger/ Sidekick's cloud-based server failure that caused major data outages in November 2009, highlighting cloud-computing risks that cybercriminals will likely abuse. Trend Micro believes cybercriminals will either be manipulating the connection to the cloud, or attacking the data centre and cloud itself.

While it is difficult to cover every possible threat eventuality that may take place in 2010 and beyond, this report is the collective insight of Trend Micro threat experts, researchers, and engineers. Their combined knowledge of the existing computing landscape plus their years of experience in the field of security enable them to identify real-world technological trends and threats for home users and businesses in 2010 and beyond.

TrendLabs analysis indicates that a new piece of malware is now created every 1.5 seconds. Given the speed with which it is being created combined with the malicious intent to defraud innocent computer users and reputable businesses, a new set of technologies and new methods need to be employed. Traditional virus patterns and spam filters alone will not be sufficient.

The report claims that while currently PCs and Macs are the target, in future, mobile devices like smartphones and the public/private cloud will become greater targets for cybercrime.

The report has examined the last few years virus outbreak trends and come up with a conclusion that unlike earlier when global outbreaks where common, in future localised and targeted attacks are expected to grow in number and sophistication.

Report also outlines the threats faced by the Social Networking sites. While claims that while businesses will continue to find new and innovative ways to engage with their customers using these sites the challenge will be to do so while ensuring their own business networks remain secure.

The report also outlines the threats faced by local language websites and claims that As the number of people from different countries gaining access to the Internet continues to grow, we see more and more non-English content being pushed online. This use of multiple languages increases the potential “market” for malware. Attacks in other languages such as Hindi, Chinese, Russian, and Portuguese are likely to increase in number.

Report also talks about Google OS, which it says will see a good adoption rate, and says that while changing the OSs will not completely remove the cyber threat, though there may be some initial benefits.

It further states that Cybercriminals will formulate more direct and brazen extortion tactics to obtain quicker access to cash. Report claims that, much like legitimate businesses, as more players come into the game, profit margins will inevitably shrink. Additionally, financial companies are coming up with more stringent security measures (multi-factor authentication), making it just a bit harder for cybercriminals to conduct fraud. These will inspire mergers and takeovers among different cybercriminal players. Likewise, this will force some pioneering cybercriminals to formulate better and faster ways to turn stolen information into cash or to go directly after cash. This latter type of theft—called “cyber pickpocketing”—has already been seen in attacks such as BEBLOH, where the malware went beyond “traditional” keylogging by not only stealing credit card information but also accessing the account and transferring funds to another account. Expect there to be more attacks directly targeting victims’ bank accounts in the coming year.

This 24 page report can be directly downloaded from http://us.trendmicro.com/us/trendwatch/research-and-analysis/threat-repo...