PandaLabs Reports 600% Rise in Information Stealing Malware

PandaLabs, which has compiled a new data, suggests that during the first six months of 2009, the total number of users infected by malware designed to steal personal credentials grew 600% over the same months during 2008. Further, a majority of these malware represents Trojan viruses, while other instances of worms, phishing, spyware, etc. are also evident.

With respect to numbers, Panda reports that it detected 391,406 computers during January-June 2009 as contaminated with information-stealing malware.

Luis Corrons, Technical Director, PandaLabs, states that the rise in making of data capturing malicious programs is because of the world economic slowdown along with the prosperous underground economy for Internet account information and debit and credit card numbers, as reported by InformationWeek on August 19, 2009. Corrons further observes that there is a rise in the dissemination of information stealing malicious programs via social-networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

In addition, PandaLabs states that computer users received over 35,000 fresh malware items, including worms, viruses, trojans etc. on a daily basis. trojans created to capture credit/debit card details, bank account numbers, or usernames and passwords for online accounts accounted for 71% of the total malware items, representing an increase from 51% during 2007.

However, there are more diverse targets through which identity thieves capture sensitive information, indicates Panda. While former thieves of financial data relied on impersonated Internet banking websites that tricked users into submitting their account details, the criminals target different kinds of services like eBay Amazon, PayPal, or charity related websites which store or require users to enter their payment account particulars.

Furthermore, the methods employed for distributing data stealing malicious programs too have become increasingly varied. While previously online criminals carried out such distribution mainly through e-mail, now the more popular channels are social networks and malware infested web-pages, web-links carrying SMS messages, and spyware, which try to seize money from users as payment for bogus security software.

To stay protected, PandaLabs recommends that web users should always use reliable anti-malware software that would help them to know if the site they are accessing is infected or not.

Related article: PandaLabs Report Discusses Movie Trojan and Other Worms

» SPAMfighter News - 9/4/2009