The future is hidden in the past, and many trends that started or gained momentum in 2011 will evolve into serious threats in 2012. As always, cybercriminals will follow the money in finding ways to siphon valuable data from emerging computing platforms. Google's smartphone OS Android will be a potentially lucrative bull's eye for hackers, along with social networks and small businesses. While profit is a prime motivator for most hackers, a growing number are becoming vigilantes, claiming a nobler path by justifying their criminality as a necessary evil in standing up for what they believe is right. Such self-righteousness is expected to drive an increase in politically motivated attacks on industrial control systems and on specific industries.

Add growing privacy concerns over geo-location services and shifts in regulatory compliance and 2012 will be a year to remember. Here are the 10 crucial security trends that we see coming. Happy New Year!