Internet to Gain Immunity from Viral Attacks

The Internet could soon be a safer place thanks to an American team of technologists. The idea is simple enough; provide areas of the web with immunity. Understanding the viral nature of worms, the team, headed by Scott Coull and Boleslaw Szymanski, want to strengthen defences of a core group of computers.

With recent Twitter Denial of Service attacks (although not immediately related) and other major online viruses, online security has rarely been out of the headlines. Locally of course, we can all set up firewalls and anti-virus systems, both at home and in the office. But with a wider protective shield covering the Internet, working online could become significantly safer.

However, with worms and viruses cut down, the next priority for many websites will be the spread of malware. The annually occurring 30 percent rise is certainly cause for concern, most notably for social networking. 19 percent of all hacker attacks are now channelled through social sites. With the freedom with which information is passed around and the community interaction involved, evidently this is a trend that could well continue.

Security online is and always has been a huge talking point. There’s no doubts that improvements have been made, but all too often the hackers are one step ahead. By immunising areas of the Internet and tackling the problem of malware head on, particularly for sites like Twitter and Facebook, there’s a far better chance for a safer future online.

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