Vista Flagged as Top Hacker Target in '08

Criticism of Microsoft’s latest release of the Windows operating system Vista isn’t exactly uncommon, but few critics have gone so far as to identify Vista as among the most vulnerable targets for cyberattacks in 2008. McAfee did exactly that yesterday during a media call. That makes the Office of Management and Budget’s mandate, issued in March, that much more important. (Ever since Microsoft released Vista, security experts have questioned the company's security claims. Also, here.)

Actually, cyberattacks on Vista is one of 10 security threats identified by McAfee as the most significant in the coming year. The prediction makes sense: adoption of the latest iteration of Windows is expected to increase dramatically, and with more licenses comes more opportunity for attacks. Other threats that made the list (none terribly surprisingly) include:

• Continued distribution of malicious software and data mining of personal information through popular online applications (think MySpace and Monster.com) and lesser-known Web sites that people are not as apt to lock down properly (think online banking applications for regional financial institutions);

• Increasing proliferation of Storm Worm, a malicious program that began infecting computers in January 2007, giving hackers complete control over personal computers;

• Viruses spread through Instant Messaging programs;

• “Parasitic” viruses that modify existing files on a computer;

• Attacks on Voice over IP;

• Adware, though high-profile lawsuits and bad publicity drove a decline in the arguably intrusive form of advertising.