Kaspersky - Malware Economy Rapidly Flourishing

Kaspersky Labs' 'Threatpost,' the cyber-security blog, stated on October 6, 2009 that the malware economy was flourishing. It also emphasized that the features and premiums equipping Adrenaline, a botnet kit, was a perfect example to understand the advancement of cyber criminals' underworld economy.

Adrenaline consists of uninterrupted (24x7) technical support, internally built attack codes, an ability to illicitly capture digital certificates and the capacity for encrypting that captured information.

Security analysts comment - while it can be stated that the legitimate economy is currently going through a rough phase, it can't be similarly stated regarding the secretive criminal business economy where bot masters and malware developers are booming.

According to security consultant 'Roy Firestein' at Digital Defence, Adrenaline was currently available for $3,500 and that it was also possible to tailor the toolkit so that even a highly demanding attacker's needs could be fulfilled. Firestein is a malware specialist too, engaged in malware analysis for a long time, as reported by SFGate on October 6, 2009.

Commenting on the issue of toolkit's high price, security specialists state that there's no reason for getting alarmed as the kit is only a premium item. More fundamental attack kits are available for even a mere $100. However, attackers using them are still quite successful in their motives.

Keeping in line with other newly available malicious software packages, Adrenaline is expected to eliminate other bots along with exploit kits from contaminated computers.

A number of the Firestein-described packages further consist of all-inclusive statistical engines, which return the numbers related to every type of browser. Botnet kit infects all type of browsers quite effectively.

Additionally, Firestein analyzed the infamous Zeus Trojan for quite some time after it had been actively building an enormous botnet of millions of compromised PCs during the recent period. The malware represents a comprehensive package, which allows its owner to conveniently contaminate numerous systems.

Malware authors have set ever new records so far as developing new threats are concerned. During July-September 2009, PandaLabs estimated 5 Million new malware samples, a majority of which included banking trojans although spyware and adware grew as well.

Related article: Kaspersky Released Malware Statistics for September 2008

» SPAMfighter News - 10/26/2009