An expert has predicted that cyber crime will become more widespread over the course of 2012.
A number of cyber crime tactics will gain prominence in 2012, highlighting the need for secure online document storage.
According to IT expert Amit Klein, who is founder of Trusteer, cybercriminals are becoming more organised and sophisticated than ever before, bypassing security controls in order to commit online crimes.
Writing in Business Computing World, Mr Klein pointed out that in 2012 there will be a rise in new multipurpose, multifunctional malware, evolving to pose new threats to internet users.
He explained that non-financial viruses are likely to develop into financial malware and adopt a range of features that were introduced to non-financial APT attacks.
Mr Klein predicted that over the course of the next 12 months, a number of perimeters will have to contend with bombardment from various sources, viruses will become more financially orientated and APT style technologies in ZeuS code derivatives will be manipulated by new coders.
In 2012, the second biggest trend IT experts expect to see is the near global reach of malware, with fraudsters reselling and repackaging malware.
"This means code, originally designed specifically to target one geographical location, will be adopted and translated to target other regions or even countries," Mr Klein explained.
"The end result will see terms such as regional malware and even malware free countries cease to exist as everyone, regardless of where they are, comes into the sights of the criminal fraternity."
Experts also expect to see a rise in the number of cyber criminals that will be improving their evasion techniques over the next 12 months.
Mr Klein pointed out that the main focus of cyber criminals is to infect victims’ computers and remain undetected for as long as possible, therefore they will continue to improve their techniques to conceal the rogue programme or mimic another programme over the course of 2012.