Domain name holders will have to pay particular attention to security issues during 2012, it has been claimed.
According to McAfee, the landscape is becoming even more dangerous for online operators who fail to take the necessary precautions.
“Emerging threats from 2011 are on track to become the major players for cyberactivity in 2012,” the firm said – such as mobile banking, ‘legal’ spam and virtual currency.
Vincent Weafer, senior vice-president of McAfee Labs, said the public has gradually become more aware of some of the risks.
Knowledge about threats to critical infrastructure and the impact of hacktivism is more common as these issues gain international media attention, he added.
“In the meantime we continue to see cybercriminals improving their toolkits and malware and are ready to make a significant impact in 2012,” the expert warned.
According to APWG’s Phishing Activity Trends Report, the propagation of some forms of crimeware surged in the half-year period ending in June 2011.