Malicious Online Threats in Asia-Pacific Create Demand for Advanced AV Software

According to Symantec's ISTR (Internet Security Threat Report) Vol. III that tracked internet threat operations around the world for January-June 2008, the majority of the global malware activity still originates from western nations. However, this form of activity is greatly increasing in the Asia-Pacific region due to the rampant availability of vicious anti-virus software, and with China contributing nearly 14% of such activity in the region.

Further, certain non-Asian anti-virus software might not instantly recognize malicious trojans that target country-specific applications such as 'Ichitaro', a word-processing application of Japan, on account of which malicious attacks are increasing, said Symantec.

Meanwhile, another group of security experts say that anti-virus software market is growing in non-Asian countries and attacks in these countries are increasing owing to many known hackers as well as virus writers based in Asia, mostly in China, Indonesia, the Philippines and India.

Security experts further state that malevolent threats like the 'I Love You' and 'Nachi' viruses have been found to originate in the Philippines and China respectively, indicating that malicious writers are dwelling in these Asia-Pacific countries.

However, with malicious attacks escalating in the Asia-Pacific region, many prominent security software providers have reportedly opened their centers for malware research in Asia, specifically in the Philippines and Taiwan. Here research is especially done on application and region specific Trojans.

In addition, some security investigators and analysts said that a large number of security vendors regulate a group of 'honeypots' (or malware collectors) who are joined in a network that seizes worms and viruses. These collectors operate from all over the world to ensure that malware are picked up fast, whatever be their origin or target of attack.

However, with waning efficacy of AV solutions as cyber-criminals craft ever-new types of malware capable of bypass traditional security safeguards, anti-virus specialists are compelled to hastily develop even better kinds of anti-malware software. Also, with an increasing number of malicious programs employing rootkit features that can foil anti-virus solutions by taking up disguises, security professionals are constantly in a condition of fury, feel security experts.

Related article: Malicious Scripts with Zero-byte Padding can Pass Undetected

» SPAMfighter News - 15-11-2008

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