Internet security leader McAfee Inc. has released its 2009 Threat Predictions Report and the prognostications, on the whole, are pessimistic.

“Computer users face a dangerous one-two punch today,” said Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Avert Labs, McAfee’s research group. “The current economic crisis is delivering a blow to our financial well-being, while malware authors are taking advantage of our distraction to deliver a roundhouse strike.”

Among the highlights of the Report:

• Cyber crooks will invade the Cloud (Web-based applications and services) sector.
• Phishing and other targeted attacks will become even more personalized and will be delivered in more languages than ever before, as appropriate to the international markets in which the attacks are launched.
• There will be an increase in malware and other attacks on mobile devices.
• There will be an increase in sales of fraudulent or misleading software and services.

And finally,

• The takedown of McColo, a major spam hosting organization, last fall will raise public awareness and lead to a continued shift in organizations, from passive support of law enforcement to an active role of working collaboratively with ISPs and global Internet entities. Together, these organizations will shine the public light on malicious actors and shut down their access to network and systems infrastructure.

The full text of the 2009 Treat Predictions Report is available at the McAfee Web site.