Cybercriminals are lazy. Given the choice between adapting their malicious
software to a new operating system or focusing on users who haven't made the
switch, they'll inevitably choose the path of least resistance, according to a
new report from Finnish security firm F-Secure.
This could spell trouble for the developing world. According to F-Secure's
report on 2010 cybercrime trends, the shift from Windows XP to Windows 7 could
give rise to malicious software "ghettos" in emerging markets that are slow to
upgrade to the more secure operating system. "Cybercriminals will always look
for the easy targets," says F-Secure Chief Research Officer Mikko Hypponen. "And
that means they'll focus on these developing countries."
