Trend Micro - Data Stealing Malware Fastest Growing Threat

According to the Internet security company Trend Micro's recently released report named "Focus Report: Data Stealing Malware", majority of online crimes could be related to malware that steals data, while trojans doing the same represent a category that is growing most rapidly.

For instance, during 2007, 52% of malware stealing data were trojans while during 2008 that percentage rose to 87%, the report states. During Q1 2009, 93% of malware stealing data were also Trojans.

Moreover, Trojan spyware and ordinary trojans are the major category of malware that steals data in the regions that TrendLabs (the research wing of Trend Micro) monitored. These regions are North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Security experts stated that in terms of attack classification, data-stealing malicious programs are witnessing fast growth as they fulfill the requirements of cyber criminals, who are motivated with financial greed, take advantage of the Internet which supplies precious information.

While data-stealing malicious programs are relatively new, they solely exist for a familiar purpose i.e. to capture proprietary details like passwords, Internet banking credentials, Social Security numbers, credit card details, and much more from hijacked computers. This information subsequently enables the underground economy for cyber-crime to flourish through the activities of profit-seeking criminal gangs that exist even beyond geographic boundaries.

Paul Ferguson, Senior Threat Researcher at TrendLabs, says that anyone equipped with a PC and an online connection could virtually wreak havoc, as reported by SCMagazine on June 29, 2009.

He further said - the problem with data-stealing malware particularly strikes hard on small-to-medium enterprises.

Cyber spying too continues to thrive. The losses, according to Trend, to businesses from this crime are estimated in multiple billions globally, with valuable information including trade secrets helping rival companies to acquire a business advantage over one another.

However, the whole gamut of the problem cannot be measured, given its distributive character on the Internet, admit the Trend specialists.

Moreover, the Trend researchers stated that for many years, security protections have been mainly to safeguard the data access end-points, but in modern environment of multiple threats, there is need for a new approach.

Related article: Trend Micro Detects Spam Mail Declaring World War III

» SPAMfighter News - 7/9/2009