Anti-Malware Lab Report Says Four out of Five Malware Samples are Trojans

Six million new malware samples were created in the first quarter of 2012 alone, according to an anti-malware laboratory's quarterly report.

PandaLabs, Panda Security's anti-malware laboratory, today published its quarterly report analyzing IT security events and incidents from January through March 2012. The full report is available at http://press.pandasecurity.com/press-room/reports/.

Malware Statistics

According to the report, trojans now represent 80 percent of all new malware, up from 73 percent in 2011. Worms comprise 9.30 percent of malware, followed by viruses at 6.43 percent. In the 2011 report, however, there were more viruses (14.25 percent) than worms (8 percent). 

When it comes to the number of infections caused by each malware category, the ranking supports the view that trojans, worms and viruses are the three most popular types of malware. Interestingly, worms caused only 8 percent of all infections despite accounting for more than 9 percent of all new malware. In the past, however, worms typically caused many more infections due to their ability to multiply.

The report findings support the view that massive worm epidemics have become a thing of the past and have been replaced by an increasing avalanche of silent trojans, cyber-criminals' weapon of choice for their attacks.

China Tops List of Infections per Country

The average number of infected PCs across the globe stands at 35.51 percent, down more than 3 percent from 2011, according to Panda Security's collective intelligence data.

China again this year led had the highest number of infections in the world (54.24 percent of infected PCs), followed by Taiwan and Turkey. In comparison, European countries tend to have the least amount of infected computers. Nine out of ten of countries with least amount of infected computers are European. The top three least infected are Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway. Japan is the only non-European country among the top ten nations with fewer than 30 percent of computers infected. 

What’s in the Report

In the report, PandaLabs highlights several top security incidents that occurred during Q1. There was a marked increase in 'ransomware' attacks over the past quarter due in large part to the so-called 'Police Virus.' The virus displays messages with logos of international law enforcement agencies to trick users into believing that their computers have been locked by the police for visiting inappropriate websites or making illegal downloads. To unlock it, users have to pay a fine, usually in the range of one hundred euros, dollars or British pounds (depending on the target of the attack). These messages are coming from the Trojans themselves. 

The report also covers the latest attacks on Android cell phones, distribution of malware via Facebook, the Megaupload case, cyber-war and the latest activities of the Anonymous and LulzSec hacktivist groups. "Although it's still early in the year, so far what we have seen in 2012 is a continuation of past trends,” said Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. “Cyber-criminals are still trying to steal users' information and money by any means possible."

Featured

  • The Key to Wellbeing in the Office

    A few years ago, all we saw in the news was the ‘great resignation.’ Now we have another ‘great’ to deal with. According to CBRE, 2023 was the start of the ‘great return’ as office workers returned to their normal offices after working from home. The data shows that two-thirds of all U.S office buildings were more than 90% leased as of Q2 2023. Read Now

  • Failed Cybersecurity Controls Costing U.S. Businesses $30 Billion Yearly

    Panaseer recently released ControlWatch and the Continuous Controls Battle: Panaseer 2025 Security Leaders Report examining the cost of cybersecurity control failures and the impact of growing personal liability for security failings on security leaders. The report analyzes the findings of a survey of 400 security decision makers (SDMs) across the US and UK. It shows that security leaders feel under increasing pressure to provide assurances around cybersecurity, exposing them to greater personal risk – yet many lack the data and resources to accurately report and close cybersecurity gaps. Read Now

  • The Business Case for Video Analytics: Understanding the Real ROI

    For security professionals who may be hesitant to invest in video analytics, now's the time to reconsider. In a newly released Omdia report commissioned by BriefCam (now Milestone Systems), the research firm uncovered a compelling story: more than 85% of North American and European organizations that use video analytics achieve a return on investment within just one year. The study, which surveyed 140 end users across multiple industries, demonstrates that security technology is no longer just for security — it's a cross-organizational tool that delivers measurable business value far beyond traditional safety applications. Read Now

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3