Malware Volume Reached Shocking Levels in 2010

Recently, security firm 'Symantec' released its security report namely MessageLabs Intelligence 2010 on December 7, 2010. According to the report, cybercrooks broadened their attack strategies to sustain the high malware threat level all through 2010. Hence, as per the report, new malware threats reached an alarming level during 2010.

According to the latest report, over 339,600 variant malware strains were found in malicious e-mails blocked during 2010, an increase of hundred-fold since 2009. This considerable augmentation is mainly due to the increase in polymorphic malware variants, usually created from toolkits that facilitate a new version of the code to be instantly created.

For instance, Bredolab family of Trojans, which is a general purpose botnet and is normally circulated through the Cutwail botnet accounted for around 7.4% of all e-mail originated malware in 2010.

The latest report highlights that, during 2010, the average number of new malicious websites blocked regularly reached to 3,066 in comparison to 2,465 in 2009, an augmentation of 24.3%. The report further acknowledged that, a total of 42,926 different malicious web threats were identified on various domains, most of which were hacked legal domains, as reported by PCWorld on December 7, 2010.

Besides, as per the report, targeted attacks augmented from ten each day to around 60 each day in 2010. Further, it is expected that by the end of the year, MessageLabs Intelligence would have stopped 77 targeted attacks per day.

Commenting on the issue, Paul Wood, MessageLabs Intelligence Senior Analyst at Symantec Hosted Services, stated that, with consistent increase in number of attacks, execution methods are also becoming sophisticated, as reported by Symantec on December 7, 2010.

Commenting on the matter, a Senior Analyst said that, usually, around 200 to 300 organizations are attacked monthly, but the industry sector differs and high ranking job designations are most typically targeted yet frequently by means of a general or assistant's mailbox. He further added that, whilst large and reputed organizations were generally targeted five years back, now the scope of targeted organizations has broadened and today no organization could be considered secure from such attacks.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

» SPAMfighter News - 12/20/2010