Phishing attacks rose slightly in February, says group

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March 29, 2005 (IDG News Service) -- The number of phishing attacks grew slightly during February, and there was also increased malicious software use, a group that monitors attempts at online identity theft said today.

There were 13,141 unique phishing e-mail messages reported to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) during February, up 2% on the number reported to the group in January. The number of phishing Web sites supporting these activities rose 1.8% to 2,625 compared with the prior month, according to the group. The APWG compiles its data using information from Internet service providers, network administrators, law enforcement agencies and individuals.

Phishing is a form of online identity theft that uses spoof e-mails and fraudulent Web sites, among other techniques, to lure people into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account user names, passwords and Social Security numbers.

The average monthly growth rate of phishing e-mails from July 2004 through February was 26%, said Peter Cassidy, the group's secretary general, in a telephone interview.

"What's scary is that we are seeing the numbers of servers being co-opted by scammers for criminal activities really jumping. It's as if they are taking over more of the Internet infrastructure," he said.

The financial services industry continues to be the main focus of scammers, with 78% of attacks targeting the customers of banks and other types of financial institutions, according to the APWG.

There was also a rise in the number of reports of keylogging and pharming, the group said, without giving details.

Keylogging involves using software to record keystrokes made on a computer and is commonly used to steal passwords. Pharming involves interfering with Domain Name System servers to direct people to counterfeit banking or e-commerce sites when they think they are visiting a legitimate site.

The country hosting the most phishing Web sites in February was the U.S., followed by China, the group said.

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