Malware Authors Giving Fight to Software Security Providers

To generate more profit, malware creators are increasingly using innovative technology so that they left behind software security providers. According to recent tests done by PC world, it has been found that leading security programs are incapable to detect new malware as only one could be detected out of four malware samples.

Malware manufacturers have become more professional and are using professionally managed test labs and other techniques to achieve good results. In fact, the methods they are employing to outpace security software providers seem to be working.

However, February 2007 results obtained from similar tests showed that the best solutions caught around 50% of the new samples. The best security software with full update caught 98% of 675,000 Trojan and various other malware.

F-Secure, the Finnish security vendor, gathered twice malicious software samples in 2007 than it had in last 20 years. This shows that the numbers of malicious software are increasing on the Internet.

Prominent software security firms like McAfee and Symantec know about the problem. They are adding multiple security shields on their software, including behavioral scanners and firewalls.

According to Don Jackson, Senior Security Researcher with the security firm SecureWorks, well organized and professionally managed cyber criminal groups have their own antivirus setups, as reported by AHN on January 2, 2008. He also said that SecureWorks finds new varieties of the PRG Trojan horse everyday and when the new versions first made appearance, only 25% of antivirus caught them.

On the other hand, Mac owners are not affected by malware because program creators give more important to Windows system.

As reported by Macworld on January 2, 2008, Hiep Dang, Director of antimalware research with the Avert Labs of McAfee, said that unlike other industries, this industry has a rival to deal with, someone they are constantly fighting with again and again. He said that rivals have a surprise element.

Some websites like VirusTotal.com, which help researchers and consumers to check a questionable file by more than 30 different antivirus engines, are facilitating malware writers by making the testing much easier. malware writers use websites like ViruTotal.com to check malicious files.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

» SPAMfighter News - 1/11/2008