Trend Mircro issues World Cup malware warning

Millions of people will be using e-mail and the internet to keep up to date with the World Cup football action. But experts fear that material sent via e-mail could be used to spread viruses and worms

E-mails about celebrities such as Anna Kournikova and Britney Spears have already been used to spread viruses. And computer experts warn that David Beckham or Michael Owen could be next.

"Amid the enthusiasm for the competition, it is important that users maintain a solid defence," warned Samir Kirouani, Senior Engineer Trend Micro Middle East. "There is the likelihood for increased activity in electronic identity and systems compromise surrounding the World Cup 2006. Many leading brands are running promotions on the World Cup in the region that involves prizes and lucky draws - it stands to reason that someone may try to 'piggy back' these brands for personal gain"

With strong focus on the opening matches and heightening tension around the quarter, semi and final gamesemail and Internet users should not reply to 'unlikely' approaches or opportunities that look too good to be true.

"Your personal data have a value to you and, subsequently, now has a value to less scrupulous individuals who are targeting innocent internet and email users on a daily basis. We have all seen recent increase in data compromise activities in the region, be it ATM fraud of Phishing attacks," commented Kirouani. "The World Cup presents a strong opportunity for opportunist compromises while people are more relaxed; beware of any offers of imagery, links to sites promising 'unique access' to information, emails from persons you don't know and so on. Beware of SMS messages offering unrealistic winnings provided you reply to the message: chances are the costs will be huge and the prizes may not even be real."

Trend Micro Anti-spyware solutions are available in three versions; Consumer, SMB and Enterprise Edition. Trend Anti-Spyware solutions are engineered to provide accurate, real-time detection and removal of spyware and grayware while incorporating enhanced features that provide optimal scalability and ease-of-use. Designed to operate alongside various antivirus and security software, these solutions can be used alone or as part of a layered defense strategy at multiple points in the network.