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Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GSTISC) today held its annual Security Summit on Emerging Cyber Security Threats and released the GTISC Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2009, outlining the top five areas of security concern and risk for consumer and enterprise Internet users for the coming year.

For 2009, GTISC is forecasting five key cyber security areas where threats are expected to increase and evolve:

• Malware - specifically under the guise of benign social networking links
• Botnets - specifically the spread of botnet attacks to wireless and peer-to-peer networks
• Cyber Warfare - including targets on the U.S. economy and infrastructure
• Threats to VoIP and Mobile Convergence - specifically voice fraud and cellular botnets
• The Evolving Cyber Crime Economy - including the rise of sophisticated malware-for-sale kits and programs

According to the report, data will continue to be the primary motive behind future cyber crime-whether targeting traditional fixed computing or mobile applications. "It's all about the data," says security expert George Heron—whether botnets, malware, blended threats, mobile threats or cyber warfare attacks. Heron expects data to drive cyber attacks for years to come. The data motive is woven through all the mentioned five emerging threat categories, beginning with malware.

Related Links:
GTISC Security Summit on Emerging Cyber Security
Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2009 (PDF)
Official Press Release
Cellphone Botnets, Blackmailing VOIP & a Healthy Cybercrime Economy (Dark Reading, Oct 15, 2008)
Botnet Spam Attacks to Target Cellphones, Report Warns (PC World, Oct 15, 2008)

See related topics: Cyberattack, Security