Do you know what are the most riskiest domains in the web ?

McAfee, a security agency, released its annual, “Mapping the Mal Web” report naming the riskiest domains in the web worldwide. Disturbingly, most of the riskiest domains come from Asia-Pacific region.

The following are the top 10 riskiest domains in the web:

1. Cameroon (.cm) – Cameroon from Africa got in the top list for 2009 overthrowing Hong Kong (.hk) as the web’s riskiest domain for 2008. With a risk rating of 1.1%, Hong Kong dropped to the 34th place this year. It is a small African country bordering Nigeria. It’s the first time that Cameroon entered the list getting the top spot with the risk rate of 36.7%. Most of the time, users mistype .com to .cm making it as the common typo for domains. Because of this, many cyber criminals decides to come up with fake typo-squatting sites redirecting users to download malicious downloads, spyware, adware and others.

2. Commercial (.com) – .com is considered as the most common domain, also getting more and more dangerous as of 2009. It has been in the ninth place in 2008 and grabbing the second most dangerous domain for 2009. It is also the most risky generic top level domain (TLD).

3. China (.cn) – The third spot belongs to China with the risk rating of 23.4% while having a 11.8% risk rate in 2008. McAfee’s report shows that websites registered with the .cn are more related spam sites.

4. Samoa (.ws) – Samoa is in fourth place with a 17.8% risk percentage compared to its security risk of 3.8% the other year. It has been reported that Samoan-registered domains are known risky for its activities like phishing and malicious downloading. Together with China, Samoa stayed in the top 5 riskiest domains since 2008.

5. Information (.info) – With 15.8% risk rate for 2009 and 11.7% for 2008, .info is considered as the most spammy domain because its sites generates a lot of junk mail. Its activity is largely spam related.

6. Philippines (.ph) – Philippines marked the sixth spot with the overall risk level of 13.1% as compared to its 2008’s risk rate of 7.7%. Its registered sites are getting more into spam and phishing than the malicious downloads.

7. Network (.net) – The seventh riskiest domain is the Network (.net) having the risk rate of 5.8% compared to its higher security risk in 2008.

8. Former Soviet Union (.su) – Former Soviet Union joined the top list for the first time, with the 5.2% security risk. Reports noted that its domains are mainly used linking phishing and malicious download activity.

9. Russia (.ru) – Russia is in the ninth place getting a risk rate of 4.6%. In 2008, it has a security risk of 6%. Domains from Russia are distributed for phishing, spam and malicious downloads.

10. Singapore (.sg) – Next to the Philippines belonging to the Asia-Pacific country, Singapore had the tenth place with the overall risk of 4.6%, compared to 0.3% last year. .sg domains were distributed evenly for spam and download activity.

The riskiest domain for malicious downloads comes from Romania (.ro). 21% of its domains are offering viruses, spyware and adware. The Government (.gov) domain is the safest domain for having 0% risk. Japan (.jp) domains got a rating of 0.1% proving to be the safest country domain in the web.

The “Mapping the Mal Web” report just shows how smart the cyber criminals are they quickly change their strategies to attract more victims without being caught. Attackers prefer to target places where it will be cheap and convenient for them to register their sites.

How Can Techie Now Help?

McAfee has named the world’s riskiest domains. With the cyber criminals roaming the web, any domain from any country can be affected by these phishing, spam and malicious downloads. It just proved that it’s really not that safe when it comes to browsing the web. The right thing to do is to make sure that you have a security software ready in your computer for protection. If you are looking for services that can protect your computer, you can trust Techie Now with that. Contact us now for any PC support services like virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, installation and configuration and general repair.

www.TechieNow.com

Many people encounter attacks, like virus and spywares, online. More and more are becoming victims every day. One instance is when you are shopping online. You create an account, agree to the store policies and enter your credit card number and personal information and buy it without you knowing that some programs are installed in your computer while you are shopping. These programs are so-called spyware which is responsible for transmitting personal information to a third party without your knowledge and explicit consent.

Some spyware are transferred to your computer legally because you actually allow it to be installed. You might not be aware that you agreed but you did. Some spyware slows down your system, steals confidential information, or compromises the security of your PC. Viruses come in single package such as .EXE file but multiplies quickly. As soon as the suspicious software is executed, it will also deploy many of other files into your PC. Some are hidden files that are hard to find and remove. Some do the action that it finds and sends out personal data immediately. Once you connect your infected laptop to your company’s network, the spyware will search through your files and sends your usernames and passwords to a third party. Some spyware records and sends out your keystrokes as you are logging into Internet sites or sensitive areas of your company’s information systems. Other spyware downloads more components into your system eating more network bandwidth.

Here are the types of spyware:

1. Adware – A type of software that makes profits for the vendor or partners of the vendor through advertising targeting the user of the PC on which the adware is installed.
2. Dialer – A piece of code redirecting Internet connections to a party other than the user’s Internet Security Provider to acquire connection charges for a content provider, vendor, or other third party.
3. Password Crackers – A code designed allowing a legitimate user or administrator to recover lost or forgotten passwords from accounts or data files. If the attacker gets the password crackers at hand, your PC is in danger because it will allow them to access your confidential information. This will threaten your security and privacy.
4. Key-logger – A software program that will capture the keystrokes you entered on the computer to steal information such as IDs and passwords. The said information is stored in a file that can be retrieved or transmitted to a hacker to access to private company information.
5. Joke – A piece of software with no malicious payload or use. It even does not impact security or privacy states but may alarm or annoy you.

Follow the following steps to avoid spyware:

1. Always update your browser and operating system.
2. Use a firewall.
3. Use an updated anti-virus and anti-spyware program.
4. Read privacy policies carefully before installing software.
5. Use a web browser that is less targeted, like Mozilla Firefox.
6. Be careful in downloading free software.
7. Use a regular account for day-to-day work and administrator account only when installing updates, etc.
8. Don’t click on links in your email that comes from unknown user.
9. Beware of pornography, online gambling, get-rich-quick, and other high-risk web sites.

How Can Techie Now Help?

Most of the computers have some form of spyware. Some are not aware that they have these spyware on their computers not knowing what to do about it. PC users must be careful when having transactions online because they may acquire a spyware that will steal their personal information threatening their security and privacy. If you think that your PC is harmed with a spyware, contact Techie Now. We can offer you our virus and spyware removal services. Techie Now is here to service your PC at your convenience.

www.TechieNow.com

Panda Security, an antivirus vendor, reported that the number of infected PCs increased up to 15 percent from August to September because of the growing number of Malware.

Source: Panda Security

Panda Security tracked the infected PCs of 29 countries where U.S. ranked 9th hitting more than 58 percent infected PCs. With 69 percent infection ratio, Taiwan hit first place. Norway got the lowest rank with 39 percent of its PC being attacked by Malware.

Source: Panda Security

According to study, Trojans and Adware were said to be the two most deadly types of Malware followed by worms and viruses. Panda Security added that the hackers and cybercriminals are becoming more and more educated that they have discovered new ways to attack PCs by using e-mail, social networks and videos.

How Can Techie Now Help?

With so many Malware available all over the Internet, your PC is not safe nowadays. You can have your PC infected easily through web browsing or e-mail. So you have to be careful with your online activities. If you have problems removing Malware in your PC, contact Techie Now right away. We assure you a better, fast and safe service when it comes to virus removal services for a favorable price. With Techie Now, your PC is always protected.

www.TechieNow.com