One-in-four hackers runs Opera to ward off other criminals

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136920/One_in_four_hackers_runs_Opera_to_ward_off_other_criminals?taxonomyId=17

By Gregg Keizer
August 20, 2009 
Computerworld 

Hackers using multi-exploit attack "toolkits" take defensive measures of 
their own against other criminals, a security researcher said today.

"Exploit kit operators do use mainstream browsers, but they're much more 
likely to use Opera than the average user, because they know that the 
browser isn't targeted by other hackers," said Paul Royal, a principal 
security researcher with Atlanta-based Purewire.

While the most generous Web measurements peg Opera, a browser made by 
Norwegian company Opera Software, at a 2% share of the global market, 
26% of the hackers who Purewire identified use the far-from-popular 
application.

Because of its small market share, few hackers bother to unleash 
exploits for Opera vulnerabilities, said Royal.

[...]


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