Hackers exploiting free Web resources

[Tami]

Hackers exploiting free Web resources
By JACK KAPICA

If you\'re thinking of saving money by going with one of those free personal Web hosting sites, think again, a security company says.

Websense Inc., a provider of employee Internet management systems, says it has recorded an increase in the number of these sites being exploited by hackers, who are using them to disseminate malicious code and dangerous types of spyware, such as keyloggers.

Since the beginning of 2005, Websense says, there have been more than 2,500 incidents of these websites distributing Trojan horses and keyloggers. In the first two weeks of July 2005 alone, more than 500 incidents of free Web-hosting sites were created to spread keyloggers, Trojan horse downloaders, Trojan horse droppers and other spyware and malware.

Those first two weeks alone accounted for more instances than in May and June combined, said Websense\'s Dan Hubbard.

\"Some of the sites may be created with automated shared hacking software and free on-line tools, while others are built to appear more legitimate,\" Mr. Hubbard said. He said that one site that offers music to go with greeting card messages runs while your computer is being infected with spyware.

Free blogging accounts are also being used this way, Websense says. The recently uncovered sites include those available for hosting on-line journals, photo albums, greeting cards, music, sports-fan pages and on-line scrapbooks.

The sites have an average lifespan of only two to four days, Mr. Hubbard says, making them hard to trace. A majority of the new sites have been hosted in Brazil or Britain, and contain text written in Portuguese and English.

\"To allow accounts to remain free, most of the hosting sites are not providing security features to prevent this anonymous posting of malignant Trojan horses,\" Mr. Hubbard added.

[url=\"http://www.globetechnology.com\"]source: Globe Technology[/url]