Microsoft - ‘TaterF’ Becomes Leading Malware Threat in November 09

As per the statistics from Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, a computer worm known as 'TaterF,' which attacks online gaming credentials, has been the most widespread online threat during November 2009.

It has been found that 'TaterF' circulates rapidly and attacks enterprise users very hard. It is spreading from home computers to business systems through infected USB drives and other portable storage devices.

Microsoft's Security Intelligence Report published lately discovered that the computer worms surged 98.4% to become the number two threat after Trojans.

The report has also revealed that there were around 4.9 Million systems attacked by 'TaterF' in H1-2009 in comparison to 2 Million in H1-2008, indicating that the 'TaterF' worm might be experiencing something like renaissance. TaterF was discovered on 239,870 systems.

In addition, TaterF and similar password thieves attacking online gamers are chiefly seen in China, but infection rate has risen globally. Players of World of Warcraft, EVE Online, and EverQuest are some of the victims of TaterF.

Besides TaterF, the leading threats discovered in November 2009 by Microsoft's MSRT are primarily password-stealers that capture online gamming and banking information and other Internet user accounts. Fake AV products and Trojan installers for them are also prominently featured on the list, and Trojan installers that mainly attack systems through drive-by attacks have taken a prominent place on the list.

Koobface stays on the list of top 25 malware from Microsoft, but it is no longer on the first 10 positions. Now, it is at No. 14, and discovered in 36,300 systems. Other leading malware threats in November 2009 comprises of the Alureon trojans which steal data and change DNS settings (141,358 computers), the Bancos family of trojans which steal online banking credentials and passwords (138,803), and the Renos family of Trojan, an installer of rogue AV (115,970 machines).

Micrsoft's MSRT also discovered 78,161 systems infected by the Cutwail spam bot, a family of Trojan installers. Till now, Microsoft has found two new fake antivirus threats on almost 110,000 systems.

Related article: Microsoft Patches Live OneCare to Tackle Quarantined E-Mails

» SPAMfighter News - 12/2/2009