Symantec warns about ‘drive-by pharming’ security threat

Security firm Symantec and the Indiana University School of Informatics have together announced a new kind of security threat called ‘drive-by pharming’.

They are claiming that this kind of a security threat could pose risks to up to 50 percent of home broadband users.

Symantec added that this particular threat is focused on home routers. These routers can easily be reconfigured and directed to a malicious Web site if default settings and passwords are being used.

Experts believe that the problem potentially affects millions of broadband users worldwide. And these security attacks can be easily launched.

They are advising home users to protect their broadband routers and wireless access points by changing their default passwords.

Oliver Friedrichs, director of Symantec Security Response added in a statement: “This new research exposes a problem affecting millions of broadband users worldwide. Because of the ease by which drive-by pharming attacks can be launched, it is vital that consumers adequately protect their broadband routers and wireless access points today.”