BitDefender Report Discusses Some Top Malware for January 2008

BitDefender, the company for anti-virus solutions, has detected malware that targets computers running un-patched Windows XP, and which has been the top threat in January 2008. Named as Exploit.Win32.WMF-PFV, the malicious software was found as frequently as 9% of the period.

On January 5, 2008, Microsoft released the MS06-001 patch to plug security holes in Windows Graphics Rendering Engine. The malicious code in question is affecting mostly pirated editions of Windows that are devoid of scope for update.

Head of AV Research, Sorin Dudea, at BitDefender, said that there might be numerous un-patched replicas of Windows exiting on the Web, generally pirated ones that do not download security patches so as not to handle activation. Therefore, the exploit continues to be popular among virus authors. Allheadlinenews published this on January 31, 2008.

The mass mailer Netsky.P has been the second most prevalent malware proving its amazing power for survival. However, with respect to overall prevalence, it is at a far lower level of 4.35% compared to its peak of 30% during the months following its first outbreak. Remaining variants of this virus occupied lower positions in the list of top ten.

One other notable malicious code is a program that restores activation keys of Windows XP. Appearing in the third position and getting the name Spyware.Pws.A from AV researchers at BitDefender, this malware incorporates with many of the current worms and viruses in distribution.

An inclination towards the distribution of stealthier and more diverse malware continues, as is evident from the month's top ten-malware accounting for just 27% of all viruses, all discoveries of BitDefender.

According to BitDefender Antispam Lab's report, image-based spam fall to nearly 4% of total spam, while there has been a growth in its variety. Stock spam has also declined from 20% of all spam in December 2007 to a far lower level at 3% in January 2008.

Also, according to spam analyst Andra Miloiu for BitDefender, a greater part of January spam comprised of unique e-mails or nearly that, making an increasing demand for even more sophisticated anti-spam filters. Marketwire published Miloiu's statement in news on January 31, 2008.

Related article: BitDefender Releases March Malware List

» SPAMfighter News - 2/11/2008