BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Malicious cyber attacks are moving from networks onto desktops, a new report warns.

    Symantec Corp. released Monday the eighth Internet Security Threat Report, one of the most comprehensive sources of internet threat data. The semi-annual report, covering the period from January 1 to June 30, identified new methods of using malicious code for making money with increasing frequency to target desktops rather than institutions.

    The report pointed to the increase in seizing personal information which creates threats that cause considerable financial loss, particularly, when credit card or bank information is seized.

    In the first half of 2005, 74 percent of the most widespread and effective 50 malevolent programs determined by Symantec were intended to seize this kind of information, up from 54 percent in the previous six months.

    "Attackers are moving away from large, multipurpose attacks on network perimeters and toward smaller, more targeted attacks directed at web and client-side applications," said Richard Batchelar, country manager, Symantec New Zealand.

    "As the threat landscape continues to change, users need to be diligent in keeping systems up-to-date with security patches and security solutions."

    The Symantec report also indicated that software vulnerabilities that open computers up to malicious attacks are reaching record levels, while the methods hackers use to exploit them become more sophisticated.

    A total of 1862 new vulnerabilities were announced, a 31% increase from the second half of 2004 and a 46% increase over the same time period last year.

    "This is the highest number of reported vulnerabilities we have seen in a 6-month period," says security expert Dave Cole of Symantec. Enditem

    (Agencies)