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McAfee’s Spam Report for Q4-2011 Shows Constant Decline

McAfee, which released its most recent Threats Report for Q4-2011, states that although spam levels have dropped, yet cyber-criminals continue to robustly execute more sophisticated assaults.

The company states that it's after years that worldwide e-mail junk dipped its bottommost level at 2011-end. During December 2011, around 1trl unsolicited bulk e-mails were sent out daily as opposed to 2trl during May 2011. All through 2011, legitimate e-mail traffic fluctuated from 450bn-500bn e-mails per day. Though that meant that the amounts of spam mails accounted for over 70%, the estimate actually represented an improved rate since the Nineties' worse period during when spam levels regularly surpassed 90%.

And while McAfee does not have an explanation for the fall, according to other observers, it's attributed to botnet shutdowns and dismembering of different pharmaceutical related spam campaigns.

Also, rather than just keep pace with the enormous spam amounts striking computer servers the most recent test must be combating personalized assaults. According to McAfee, in spite of the dip within worldwide levels, spam and spear-phishing campaigns continue to be the same perilous like before. Theregister.co.uk published this on February 22, 2012.

Worryingly, bot-networks alternatively, PCs manipulated to make them run malware grew after October 2011 following decline since August same year. For some countries there was a mitigation of botnet operations, however, for the majority there was a considerable rise, reveals the report.

Then regarding networks-of-bots, those that were suspected sustained. During October-November 2011, Bobax grew prior to declining during December 2011. Lethic kept on declining since it reached its zenith during Q3-2011. Maazben and Cutwail, too rose considerably during December 2011, however, the most vibrant botnet during the period happened to be Grum that following an extended fall regained its year back position.

Intriguingly, alongside botnets and spam, McAfee's new report as well talks about Mac malware, which after an enormous rise during Q2-2011, has stayed subdued from then.

The company states that like always, comparing general rise in Mac malware with the increase in the number of computers puts the danger for Mac rather in control; nonetheless, it's forever prudent for keeping one's system protected.

Related article: McAfee Alerts Windows about Accessibility Hole in Vista

» SPAMfighter News - 2/29/2012

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