When enterprise security operations centers are lightly staffed or understaffed, spear phishing increases especially during holidays, reported by FireEye in its recent second half 2011"Advanced Threat Report" released today (14 February 2012), according to the news published in FireEye blog on February 14,2012.
According to FireEye, modus operandi of attackers seems to be tightly functioning even during the U.S. holidays also, including Columbus Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day, when there is a zoom in the attack levels suddenly. The Company also described the pattern of malware-based attacks during 2011.
However, the level of attack reduced during Christmas and New Year's celebration, even below the standard. Only rumors are prevalent that significantly fewer employees are working during these holidays. As such, there are comparatively less opportunities malicious attachments to be opened by the targeted users.
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