| In 2006, the number of cyber break-ins
and identified network/application vulnerabilities continued
its inexorable rise. Symantec, a leading manufacturer of
anti-virus software, documented over 2,500 new
vulnerabilities between July and December 2006 -- 12%
higher than the first half of 2006, the highest number
ever recorded for a 6-month period -- with 79% being
considered easily exploitable and 73% being of medium or
high severity.
Furthermore, 25% of vulnerability exploit code was
released less than 1 day after vulnerability publication,
and 31% was released in less than 6 days after
vulnerability publication. |