The next big threat to Web security has less to do with phishing and more to do with affiliation networks, according to a recent Web security report by Fijan.

According to Finjan, a San Jose-based Web security provider, hackers are now using sophisticated affiliation networks that provide a hosting model for malicious code. Webmasters and bloggers who include the infected code on their sites are then paid according to the number of infected visitors they accumulate.

In an article at NetworkedWorld, Ben-Itzhak, CTO of Finjan said that "pretty much any site can be at risk, as these affiliation network techniques have even been used when compromising highly popular Web sites or government domains".

Ronald O'Brien, senior security analyst at anti-spam software provider Sophos said that these malware writers are basically introducing business concepts into there operation stressing that "They are actually measuring the effectiveness of their affiliates and paying them accordingly. We have simply never seen this level of sophistication."