Top 10 security threats of 2010

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The number of threats now on the web is incalculable given the rate at which they are amassing.

Nevertheless, there are those that make more of an impact than others and 2010 has been a year full of big moments.

We take a look back at some of the most significant threats, taking into consideration both their prevalence and industry impact.

10. Adobe exploits

Adobe had an up and down year, but it had plenty to contend with in the security space. The number of exploits affecting its software was disconcerting, even more worrying when looking at the zero-day threats affecting the likes of Reader and Flash.

It is the prevalence of the software that makes it most concerning, yet Adobe is clearly taking steps to shore up its defences, in particular with some sandboxing technology.

9. Mobile malware

As expected, smartphones increasingly became a target for data-hungry crooks. Android was under plenty of scrutiny, with malware targeting the Google OS found to have quadrupled in 2010.

One of the most widely reported smartphone stories of the year focused on the JailbreakMe app, which exploited security holes to allow non-approved apps to run on the phone. Whilst the app proved popular, the fact was the flaws could have allowed hackers to compromise iPhones.

Apple duly closed the vulnerabilities that JailbreakMe had used, but expect to see similar apps to appear in the coming months.

8. Mariposa

The Mariposa botnet was a mega-botnet with control over nearly 13 million computers. Various arrests were made, with the mastermind taken into custody in Slovenia after a global effort from law enforcement.

The successful identification and arrests surrounding Mariposa raised a major theme of 2011: it may have been one of the best years yet for cyber crime takedowns, but the scale of the threats was startling nonetheless.

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