The computer security research organization's report reveals that cyber criminals have shifted targets. Over the past five years, most hackers went after operating systems and Internet services like Web servers and E-mail servers. In 2005, they took aim at software applications.

The applications under fire span a variety of operating systems. They include enterprise backup software, anti-virus software, PHP applications, database software, peer-to-peer file sharing software, DNS software, media player software, IM software, and Internet browsers.

The second major finding of the report is that vulnerabilities in network operating systems such Cisco’s Internetwork Operating System (IOS), which powers most of the routers and switches on the Internet, represent a significant threat.

"The bottom line is that security has been set back nearly six years in the past 18 months," Alan Paller, director of research for the SANS Institute, wrote in an E-mail. "Six years ago, attackers targeted operating systems and the operating system vendors didn't do automated patching. In the intervening years, automated patching protected everyone from government to grandma. Now the attackers are targeting popular applications, and the vendors of those applications do not do automated patching."

Security experts credit Microsoft's efforts to improve its software with forcing hackers to look for lower hanging fruit. Part of the reason we're seeing a more of the attacks go against things other than the Windows operating system is that the Windows operating system has gotten better.

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