Microsoft released its Security Intelligence Report on Monday, November 3, 2008, a fifth such report of its kind by the software giant. The study said that a majority of information loss was as a result of human error, such as lost laptops or stolen IT equipment (47.5%). Social engineering attacks, in which the text of an e-mail, for example, persuades the reader to open an attachment that installs malicious code, also remain a high threat to businesses. The report also indicated that software vulnerabilities in operating systems are down, but the trend is more towards application-type software. George Stathakopoulos stated that Microsoft is going to work closely with those types of software firms to create a united front against individuals who are trying to unleash malicious code on users without their knowledge.
To read the entire report, please click here: Microsoft Security Intelligence Report