Malware reached its highest levels ever in the first six months of 2010, according to a new report from McAfee.

McAfee found 6 million malicious files in the second quarter, compared to 4 million in the first quarter.  Threats on portable storage devices were the most popular malware, followed by fake anti-virus software and social media specific malware. With 55,000 new pieces of malware that appear everyday, globally AutoRun malware and password-stealing Trojans round out the top two malware threats.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center is marking its 10-year anniversary of fighting cybercrime.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established in May 2000 as a partnership between the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since its launch IC3 has received more than 1.5 million complaints of cybercrime.

"This year marks the first decade of our partnership with NW3C addressing nearly 1.5 million Internet crime complaints to IC3," said Bill Hinerman, FBI Unit Chief for IC3.

Cybercrime syndicates are expanding the base of brands they exploit for online fraud beyond major financial institutions and online merchants, according to a new report from the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG).

The number of hijacked brands reached a record 356 in October, up nearly 4.4 percent from the previous record of 341 in August 2009.

Some of the riskiest searches on the Internet currently have to do with finding items for free, or looking for work that can be done from home, according to a new report from McAfee.

Search categories like these are used to lure unsuspecting consumers to their websites. Cybercriminals are often able to convince users to download files carrying, malicious software that can cause people to expose personal and financial information.

McAfee has introduced a free online Cybercrime Response Unit aimed at detecting cybercrime and helping users recover from it.

"With physical crime you know right away if your house has been broken into or your car has been stolen, but with cybercrime, it’s not that obvious. Most people don’t even know they’re a victim, and they rarely know what to do next," said McAfee President and Chief Executive Officer Dave DeWalt.

Cybercrime continued to grow at a rapid pace throughout 2008,primarily targeting personal financial information of computer users, according to a new report from Symantec.

Symantec said it created more than 1.6 million new malicious code signatures in 2008, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the total malicious code signatures ever created by the security firm.

A New Zealand teenager who confessed to a major role in a worldwide cyber-crime ring, which led to millions of dollars of losses, was discharged from court yesterday without any conviction.

Microsoft has been increasing its collaboration with law enforcement globally in order to fight cyber crime.