Top 10 riskiest Web domains

Ever wondered which are the most riskiest Web domains? Domains which host (or are rather used to host) maximum malware or codes that can launch a virus, phising or a botnet attack on your PC?

Security agency McAfee has released its annual "Mapping the Mal Web" report that names the riskiest Web domains across the globe. Alarmingly, as many as seven out of the top 20 riskiest domains are from the APAC region.

Here's over to top 10 riskiest Web domains.

Cameroon (.cm)
Topping the list is Africa's Cameroon (.cm) which has overthrown Hong Kong (.hk) as the Web's riskiest domain. Entering for the first time in the list, Cameroon, a small African country that borders Nigeria, jumped to the number one spot this year with 36.7% of the .cm domain posing a security risk.

According to the report, because the domain .cm is a common typo for .com, many cyber criminals set up fake typo-squatting sites that lead to malicious downloads, spyware, adware and other potentially unwanted programmes.

Last year's riskiest domain, Hong Kong (.hk) dropped to 34th place with a risk rating of only 1.1%.

Commercial (.com)
World's most common domain has just got more dangerous. From being the ninth most riskiest domain last year, .Com domain has become the second most dangerous domain this year. Falling in the generic category, Commercial (.com) domain has a weighted risk of 32.2%.

According to the report, .com is also the most risky generic top level domain (TLD).



China (.cn)
At No. 3 is People's Republic of China (.cn) which poses a risk level of 23.4%, as compared to 11.8% in 2008.

According to McAfee, the risky or malicious activity associated with sites registered with the .cn (China) overwhelmingly relates to spam sites as opposed to malicious downloads.

Samoa (.ws)
Fourth most riskiest Web domain is Samoa (.ws) with an overall risk percentage of 17.8%. Last year the domain posed a security risk of 3.8%.

The report rates Samoan-registered domains risky primarily for their phishing and malicious download activity. Among country domains, the People's Republic of China (.cn) and Samoa (.ws) have remained in the top 5 riskiest domains since last year.

Information (.info)
The information (.info) domain is the most "spammy," domain with 17.2% of its sites generating junk mail.

The domain has an overall risk of 15.8%, as compared to 11.7% in 2008. The risk associated with .info registered domains is largely spam related.



Philippines (.ph)
At No. 6 on the riskiest Web domains list is Philippines (.ph). The domain has an overall risk level of 13.1%, compared to 7.7% last year.

Philippines (.ph) registered sites are more similar to China than Samoa, with risk weighted towards spam and phishing than related to downloads.

Network (.net)
Seventh riskiest web domain is Network (.net) with the overall risk percentage of 5.8%. As compared to this year's figure, the domain recorded a higher security risk of 6.3% last year.





Former Soviet Union (.su)
Entering for the first time in the top 10 list is Former Soviet Union (.su) domain. Ranked at no. 8, the domain poses a security risk of 5.2%.

The report says risky registrations using the former Soviet Union (.SU) domain are evenly distributed between phishing and risky download activity.

Russia (.ru)
Ninth riskiest Web domain is Russia (.ru) with an overall risk percentage of 4.6%. Last year, the domain posed a security risk of 6%.

Russian (.RU) registered site risk is distributed in a roughly 3:2:1 ratio for malicious downloads, phishing and spam.

Singapore (.sg)
Next APAC country on the list is Singapore (.sg) at No 10. The .sg domain has an overall risk of 4.6%, compared to 0.3% last year.

According to the report, Singapore (.sg) registered sites were evenly distributed between spam and download activity.