Online Thieves More Sophisticated, More Profit-Motivated

Every year uncharted threat territory lies ahead, but in 2008 there's a thicket of thieves to make it past. While computer security products now block far more than ever, attackers have banded together under the profit banner. They're using advanced weaponry and strategy to target businesses and consumers.

"Thieves are using more malware," Avivah Litan, an analyst at research firm Gartner. "I think corporations are caught off-guard."

Attackers now are more often after money or information that can lead to it, says Litan, who admits she avoids paying bills online for safety.

She recently spoke with executives at a company hit by a "spear phishing" attack: Corporate spies broke into the firm's systems by fooling workers into technologically opening the door.