Symantec launched a website aimed at football fans providing details of the latest information security scams connected with the World Cup. The site also contains safety tips and secure links containing news and information on the tournament. Symantec Africa regional director, Gordon Love, said: “The site will provide people with the information they need to protect themselves on the internet.”

During the World Cup, football related sites are set to receive a large increase in traffic, which makes football fans vulnerable to hackers who are looking to obtain valuable private data. Love said; “Attackers are always finding new ways of duping people into disclosing their personal information. Being well informed and alert is as important as keeping up to date with the latest protection software updates.”

The World Cup South Africa 2010 will take place this June and the event is already becoming a fashionable theme for cyber criminals. Senior analyst at Symantec Hosted Services, Paul Wood, said; “Historically, any large-scale sporting event has shown an increase in all kinds of cyberthreats. Phishing attacks increased by 66 percent during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.”