Hackers Pose New Threat to Desktop Software

Identity Theft
Phishing
Risk Management

Hackers have changed their tactics and are exploiting flaws in popular software applications – including security programs — to break into the computers of consumers, government agencies, and businesses.

What’s new about this, you might ask?  The key word is “applications.”  Until recently, hackers focused almost exclusively on computers’ operating systems – that is, their basic nervous-system software, with Windows being the obvious example.

But over the past five years, operating-system companies, especially Microsoft, have grown much more adept at quickly issuing “patches” once a security breach in their products was discovered.  Moreover, the ubiquity of Internet access means these patches can be distributed automatically, often without the user even knowing his or her software has been strengthened.  Result: More secure operating system software.