Microsoft-DS no longer hackers' top target

For the first time since Akamai started data-gathering in 2008, Microsoft-DS -- aka Port 445 -- is not the hackers' primary path of attack, Akamai's latest "State of the Internet" report revealed Wednesday.

Instead, hackers have moved to targeting Web users through HTTP Port 80 and SSL (HTTPS) port 443.

That hackers are changing their tactics is notable. For years, the Microsoft-DS file-sharing port was a favored place for hackers because it allowed for the transfer of malicious content to PCs. Now, though, it appears hackers are seeing that people are possibly more susceptible to attacks through the Web.

In addition, Akamai, which provides Web infrastructure services, revealed that China was not the top originator for malicious attacks in the second quarter. Instead, Indonesia took the top spot, accounting for 38 percent of all malicious traffic. China accounted for 33 percent of malicious traffic. The US was in third place at 6.9 percent.

Other findings from the Akamai report:

• There are 752 million unique IPv4 addresses in 242 countries/regions around the world, representing a 13 percent increase year over year.
• Global average peak-connection speeds have reached 18.9Mbps. Hong Kong was tops at an 65.1Mbps average connection speed.