Hacker Attacks On Some U.S. Utilities Up 90%

The number of hacker attacks on some U.S. utility companies is up 90% in the last nine months, according to a security company.

SecureWorks, a managed security services company that serves 100 American utilities, reported Friday that it has tracked a 90% increase in the number of hackers trying to attack its utility clients this year. Between January and April, SecureWorks blocked an average of 49 attackers per utility client per day. However, between May and September, the company's researchers saw an average of 93 hackers attempt attacks on each of its utility clients every day.

"In 2007, we blocked significantly more browser attacks for our clients than we did the year prior, as many of the top Trojans are using Web sites and e-mail links as infection vectors," said Wayne Haber, director of development at SecureWorks, in a written statement. "Some of the most prominent malware using these tactics include the Gozi, Prg, Storm, and BBB/IRS Trojans.