Report: Creation Of New Malware Increases By 26 Percent, Reaching More Than 73,000 New Strains Per Day

PandaLabs, Panda Security's anti-malware laboratory, has found the number of threats in circulation has risen in comparison to last year. In the first three months of 2011, PandaLabs identified an average of 73,000 new malware strains each day, most of which were Trojans. Moreover, there was a 26 percent increase of new threats compared to the same period last year.

While PandaLabs observed a quarter-over-quarter increase of new malware in 2010, the rise was not nearly as notable as the one experienced over the last several quarters.

Overall, Trojans remain the most popular type of threat to computer systems, and now account for 70 percent of all new malware. This is not surprising since it is incredibly lucrative for cybercriminals to commit fraud or steal money from Internet users through the online banking channel.

"The proliferation of online tools that enable non-technical people to create Trojans in minutes and quickly set up illegal business -- especially when it provides access to banking details – is responsible for Trojans' impressive growth," said Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs.

Not all kind of Trojans grow at the same pace. When investigating the subtypes of malware, PandaLabs found that Banker Trojans have decreased, bots have remained steady, and fake anti-virus or rogueware has decreased in popularity.

However, the number of "downloaders" has increased significantly. Downloaders are a subtype of Trojan that, once it has infected a user's computer, connect through the Internet to download additional malware. Hackers often use this method because the downloader is lightweight -- only containing a few lines of code -- and can go completely unnoticed unlike other Trojans.

Featured

  • Using Modern Technology

    Using Modern Technology

    Workplace violence is a serious and growing challenge for many organizations — including those in the healthcare industry. Read Now

  • The Core Value Proposition

    The Core Value Proposition

    Machine and deep learning algorithms are everywhere in our lives. Masquerading as AI, they are only in their infancy. Have a conversation with a ChatGPT chatbot, and it becomes clear just how far we have come in a short time and how far we have to go. Read Now

  • Progressing in Capabilities

    Progressing in Capabilities

    Hazardous areas within industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and the like, have long-sought reliable video surveillance cameras and equipment that can operate safely in these harsh and unpredictable environments. Read Now

  • A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    Across the United States, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, truck yards, parking lots and car dealerships all have a common concern. They are targets for catalytic converters. In nearly every region, cases of catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power

    FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power

    The FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power—designed to provide DC power for access control systems in international applications—is now PSE listed for Japan and compatible with the country’s 100VAC applications. 3

  • BIO-key MobileAuth

    BIO-key MobileAuth

    BIO-key International has introduced its new mobile app, BIO-key MobileAuth™ with PalmPositive™ the latest among over sixteen strong authentication factors available for BIO-key's PortalGuard® Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) platform. 3