The latest Internet Security Threat Report released today by Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) shows that because home users are less  likely to have established security measures in place, they are being increasingly  targeted  by  attackers  for  identity theft, fraud, or other financially motivated crime. Furthermore, attackers are now using a variety of  techniques to escape detection and prolong their presence on systems in order  to  gain  more  time  to  steal information, hijack the computer for marketing   purposes,   provide  remote  access,  or  otherwise  compromise confidential information for profit.

Symantec's  Internet  Security  Threat Report notes that home users are the most  targeted  attack  sector,  accounting  for 86 percent of all targeted attacks, followed by financial services  businesses.  Symantec  has identified  increased  attacks aimed at client-side applications, increased use  of  evasive tactics to a   detection, and that large, widespread Internet worms have given way to smaller, more targeted attacks focusing on fraud, data theft, and criminal activity.

"Attackers  see end users as the weakest link in the security chain and are constantly  targeting  them  in  an  effort to profit," said Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Symantec India.  "Given the effect this has on our large and  growing  customer  base,  Symantec  introduced  new metrics to further understand  how to better protect customers against these security concerns in years to come," he added.

Desktop Attacks on the Rise

As  software  vendors  and  enterprises  successfully adapt to the changing threat   environment   by   implementing   security   best   practices  and defense-in-depth  strategies,  attackers have begun to adopt new techniques such  as targeting malicious code at client-side applications including Web browsers,  e-mail clients, and other desktop applications.  Vulnerabilities affecting  Web applications accounted for 69 percent of all vulnerabilities documented  by  Symantec  in the first half of 2006. Vulnerabilities in Web browsers  have  also become increasingly prominent, with 47 vulnerabilities documented  in  Mozilla  browsers  (compared  to  17  in the last reporting period),  38  in  Microsoft  Internet  Explorer (compared to 25), and 12 in Apple Safari (compared to six).

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