MX Logic Expects Managed Security Services to Play Critical Role in Preparing Businesses to Combat Mutating Cyber Threats in 2008

Business Wire, Dec 5, 2007

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- MX Logic, Inc., a leading managed security service provider, today released cyber threat and managed services predictions that will impact small, medium and large businesses in 2008.

"In 2007, cyber criminals have firmly established their intentions to focus on Web 2.0 applications. This trend, coupled with the increased complexity of combined threats that are distributed through botnets, will reach critical mass in 2008," said Sam Masiello, director of threat management at MX Logic. "The monetary benefit criminals receive from their malicious activity will force them to become more sophisticated in their tactics. We see the ability for cyber threats to quickly morph as a catalyst for the adoption of managed security services globally."

MX LOGIC 2008 CYBER THREAT PREDICTIONS:

MX Logic threat research predicts an array of blended cyber threats and tightly woven spam campaigns to dominate in 2008.

* Web 2.0 Heightens Security Risk

Blogs, wikis and social networking sites not only make the Internet a more interactive, enjoyable user experience but also provide a breeding ground for security threats. Web 2.0 applications push code execution to the browser, allowing cyber criminals to silently inject malcode onto a victim's PC. These criminals are expected to seek new and more sophisticated ways to exploit social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. The MX Logic threat research team is already seeing instances of this new direction via blog spam and phishing, and predicts information looting through interactive communities will become a common practice in 2008 as cyber criminals continue to branch out and exploit technologies.

* Web Malware Closes Gap on Email Threats

The rise of Web-based services and applications is helping pave the way for cyber criminals to exploit the Web browser. The Web browser is an appealing alternative for cyber crooks to push malware through email because it prompts the user to pull malware from a Web site. The social engineering possibilities are countless, and vulnerabilities within Internet Explorer and Firefox have contributed to a steady increase of cyber threats since 2004. This year, the MX Logic Threat Operations Center has recorded dramatic spikes in the number of Web-based threats - an apparent trend that reveals cyber criminals now consider the Web an increasingly popular malware delivery method.

* Targeted and Dangerous Social Engineering

MX Logic expects cyber crooks to continue to fine tune their social engineering skills and targeting methods for spam attacks. In May and June, 2007, the MX Logic Threat Operations Center saw high profile examples of these evolving methods. Targeted spam messages with infected payloads were sent to C-level executives purporting to be from agencies like the Better Business Bureau and the Internal Revenue Service. These messages are also expected to assume a more professional look and feel and to be sent in small quantities that can fly under spam detection technology. This approach contradicts the large, haphazard spam infiltration techniques of the past.

* Blended Threats are Gaining Momentum

A blended threat, which combines two malicious tactics, is a technique that is gaining momentum. For example, a cyber criminal using a blended threat will install a keylogger onto a PC that captures personal information while he or she simultaneously turns the machine into a spam zombie that pumps out thousands of unsolicited messages claiming to be from brands like Viagra and Rolex. In this scenario, personal information can be sold for a profit while a hacker sells time on a PC to spammers for distributing spam. Blended threats demonstrate how malware distribution is a business model in the underground community.

With the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats, managed services are playing a critical role in preparing businesses to combat spam and other malicious threats. Managed security services allow enterprises to save time and money spent on researching, installing and maintaining security applications. These services are evolving to the point where threats like the Storm Worm can be addressed before they hit an organization's network.

MX LOGIC 2008 MANAGED SERVICE PREDICTIONS:

"We will define 2007 as the year that managed services and in particular, managed security services, have become a reality," said Pete Khanna, executive vice president, sales and support at MX Logic. "IT security is critical to all businesses no matter the size or the market. In 2008, we will see more vendors releasing managed security services and in turn creating a more integrated service-set, allowing for greater adoption globally."

* Distributors to Play a Key Role

With the adoption rate of managed services by resellers and solution providers on the rise, distributors will play a key role in driving the implementation and acceptance of managed services in 2008 and beyond. As leading distributors sell managed services, they will be the force behind bundling different managed services offerings together to create valuable integrated solutions. These solutions will provide convenient access to multiple resources through one service provider while maintaining the benefit of building new, recurring revenue streams for the channel.