ET: 22 Dec 2009, 0100 hrs IST, PTI

Hackers may target popular new devices with a rapidly growing user base like smartphones and Microsoft's operating system Windows 7 next year, a study said.

Security solutions firm Websense Inc in its list of security predictions for 2010 said that hackers will look to compromise new platforms such as smartphones and take advantage of the popularity of Windows 7.

"With a rapidly growing user base, business adoption and increasing use for conducting financial transactions with these devices, hackers will begin more dedicated targeting of smartphones in 2010," Websense chief technology officer Dan Hubbard said.