Antvirus Software Maker Tabs .CM As the World's Riskiest Domain

McAfee, one the of largest manufacturers of anti-virus software, just named Cameroon's .cm country code extension the riskiest domain to visit in the world. CNet reports that McAfee claims 36.7% of all sites using the African nation's extension pose a security risk. The firm said that since .cm is often a typo for .com, cybercrooks like to use that domain to set up typo-squatted sites to infect your computer with malware. 

Now here's a surprise. Guess what extension is #2 - soaring from #9 one year ago? That would be none other than .com with 32.2% of its sites potentially hazardous to your computer's health according to McAfee's 3rd annual Mapping the Mal Web report (PDF file). 

McAfee rated other extensions for specific ills. Romania's .ro was named the riskiest domain 

for malicious downloads, with 21% of its sites delivering viruses, spyware, and adware. .Info is supposedly the one most used for spam with 17.2% of its sites generating junk mail.

Faring much better is .gov, the extension reserved for government use that has almost no risk according to McAfee. Japan's .jp was designated the safest country code with just 0.1% of sites considered to carry a risk. 

McAfee said  that cybercriminals prefer registrars that provide inexpensive domains, volume discounts and generous refund policies.