Before Microsoft released Microsoft XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), most attackers would compromise a computer system by simply attacking it with known vulnerabilities or "bugs" that could allow the attacker to gain some level of control over the system. Newer attack methods were starting to be seen where the attacker would take advantage of vulnerabilities within the Internet browser itself.
These vulnerabilities would allow the attacker to download malicious code, Trojan horses, or other applications in the background simply by having the user look at a web page. Due to the popularity, and success of these new attack methods, in conjunction with security devices that often only block inbound attack, this trend will continue and even increase in 2007 and beyond so get this new whitepapers to learn how to combat Hackers.