AppRiver - Malware Attacks & E-mail-borne Viruses Rose in June

Security company 'AppRiver' has published its 'Threat and Spamscape Report -July 2009' according to which malware creators during June 2009 left no opportunity idle for exploiting current events in order to transmit malware.

Most upsetting among them were related to the demises of a number of celebrities and other breaking news events from May 2009. malware purveyors used them in their campaign headings. News events that were exploited by criminals included the demises of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, Father's Day, and the crash of Air France Flight AF447.

Furthermore, Twitter, the micro-blogging site, was used several times during June 2009 for transmitting malware by taking advantage of the massive fan following. At first, these attacks of malware transmission had been restricted to cover only Web-based varieties, but currently scams are targeting users with e-mails luring them with ways to earn income via their accounts on Twitter, states AppRiver.

Security researchers stated that the 3rd week of June 2009 witnessed a stream of malware laced e-mails using the caption "BBC News". These messages had a web-link along with a host of bogus news captions related to something about Paris Hilton. However, the web-link tried to plant malicious material on users' computers, states AppRiver in its report.

Another perfectly planned malware and phishing scam that targeted users with e-mails during June 2009 utilized Microsoft's name. Mentioning about an alleged enticing attack, the e-mails advised users to take care of a critical security flaw in Microsoft Outlook Express and Outlook via the application of a patch. However, the act resulted in malware installation on the PCs of unwary purchasers.

Besides, AppRiver also reports, June 2009 witnessed a rise in virus laced e-mails as well. From May 2009, according to the company, the trend carried on to June 2009 and at a much faster rate, accounting for a staggering 385%, while capturing over 64 Million messages.

Hence, security experts advised netizens to maintain their security software up-to-date with the latest versions since attackers appeared to strike with ever-new and advanced malware assaults every time.

Related article: AppRiver Reports Security Trends for November 2008

» SPAMfighter News - 18-07-2009

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