Internet Threats from UK On a Rise

The May 2010 e-threat statistics by Network Box reveals that UK is accountable for around 6% of World's Internet viruses (production has increased from 3% in April 2010). As a result, UK is the third biggest producer of viruses following Korea (at more than 16%) and the US (at almost 12%).

Internet Security Analyst at Network Box, Simon Heron, on her blog posted that this growth in UK indicates that end users in the UK are not careful and visit harmful websites or run executable attachments to their mails. Also, it implies that users do not use updated antivirus software which is the most crucial step in protecting the systems, as per the news published by SecureNet on June 1, 2010.

Further, Heron wrote that users should remember that if a system is sending viruses, then it belongs to some hacker who is running the virus and may also be running software to look for password and credit card information.

Also, the firm discovers that India and China contributes 5.53% and 4.30% respectively to the world's Internet viruses.

In May 2010, Russia has come down in regard to virus production (2.76%). It can be because of the decline in PROXIEZ-NET.

Regarding this, Heron opined that PROXIEZ-NET had been known for being difficult to close down. However, just like the McColo closing in November 2008, these hubs can be easily closed. Basically, it becomes hard for hackers to find a place to host their servers, as per the news by Help Net Security on May 31, 2010.

But, it does not indicate that hackers will stop trying. There was a tremendous decline in the level of spam following McColo shutdown, but levels came back to pre-shutdown highs the next month (December 2008) itself.

Besides the above mentioned countries, the other major countries found by Network Box (in May 2010) as the crucial virus circulating countries are Australia (2.65%), Italy (2.04%), Colombia (1.96%) and Brazil (1.80%), holding seventh, eighth, ninth an tenth places respectively.

Related article: Internet Threat Volumes Overwhelm Security Companies

» SPAMfighter News - 6/11/2010