IM threats Way up

Tell instant-messagers at your house! Threats like worms and viruses targeting IMs were up 1,500% over the past year, CNET reports, citing research by IM security firm IMLogic. These are attacks that lead to outsiders taking control of your PC. To help kids be on the alert, tell them all these attacks use some sort of "social engineering," IMLogic indicated - "such as tempting users with an enticement to click on a link or attachment," like "check out my blog," "look at my photo," or "check out this cool video clip" (only more enticing because probably using kid chatspeak and posing as someone on their buddy list). Over the year (10/04-10/05), MSN Messenger users got 62% of the attacks, AIM 31%, and Yahoo Messenger 7% (with the top two switching in September). For more on developing IM security smarts, see "IM tips from a tech-savvy dad" and "IM anthropology."