BitDefender analyzes H1-2009 malware

BitDefender has recently released its 'E-Threats Landscape Report' for the H1 (first half) of 2009, according to which, writing malware is now a flourishing business that essentially mimics corporate models. Marketwire.com reported this on August 3, 2009.

States the report, malware authors constantly strive towards infecting end-users so that they may snatch control of their computers and/or gain financial benefits. Also, in this venture, there is an increase in Trojan malware that has contributed to some 83% of the worldwide malicious programs detected, the report notes.

Further according to BitDefender, whereas trojans represented e-threats with the maximum activity during January-June 2009 (H1-2009), the infamous Downadup virus resulted in the maximum destruction to computer users. This virus succeeded in infecting unprecedented 11m computers the world over and appeared in the headlines of numerous mainstream media and computer journals.

Apart from this, BitDefender observed that during H1-2009, the countries that most actively distributed malware included the U.S., France and China, with Spain, Australia and Romania following close.

Says Head of BitDefender anti-spam Research Lab Vlad Valceanu, the Internet represents an extremely important vehicle for communication that is used for activities pertaining to business, leisure and schooling. At the same time it is now also a medium for cyber-criminals for acquiring control, though illegally, over a huge number of users' PCs, financial and other personal data, Valceanu further said. Marketwire.com reported this.

Valceanu added that cyber-criminals wouldn't halt their efforts towards making their attacks more effective, and that is the reason why computer users must essentially ensure that a proper security solution is installed on their systems that would supply a sophisticated and proactive defense to them against e-threats.

Meanwhile, aside malware, the security company further discovered that micro-blogging and social networking websites have also facilitated in waging social engineering assaults. Notably innocuous online games added to Twitter, led to the exposure of sensitive user credentials letting hackers to intercept various web service passwords of victims. There was also a drastic boost for MAC OS X scareware during H1-2009, suggesting that Apple users must now embrace a security solution specific to the operating platform.

Related article: BitDefender Releases March Malware List

» SPAMfighter News - 8/20/2009