Recreational internet searches "most dangerous"

Staff who search for music downloads, lyrics or screensavers on company computers could be putting their employers at risk if a new report is to be believed. Finding these sorts of free items on the internet can lead to adware and malware-laden sites, according to McAfee. It has released a report titled The Web's Most Dangerous Search Terms, which outlines how web criminals use current events and trends to target victims. Hackers may use seemingly safe recreational portals to gain access to users' PCs, it found. More than 2,600 popular keywords were assessed for their risk by the firm, with the most dangerous lexis found to be "screensavers". "Free work from home" was also another phrase it found to be a potential problem. Jeff Green is senior vice-president of the organisation's product development and avert labs. He commented cybercriminals are becoming increasingly smart. "Like sharks smelling blood in the water, hackers will create related Web sites laden with adware and malware whenever a particular topic increases in popularity," Mr Green explained. Earlier this year, McAfee warned internet crime has risen by 50 per cent as a result of malicious programmes.