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TELECOMS INDUSTRY
REPORTS
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‘Memory Stick’ Malware security report 2008
02/04/08
ESET reports that INF/Autorun,
a generic identification for malware that tries to use the file
autorun.inf as a way of compromising a PC, has retained its number
one spot and increased its share of detected malware during March.
ESET’s ThreatSence.Net, which reports on the threats detected by
over ten million systems worldwide, shows that 10.30% of malware
detections last month were identified as files containing
information on programs to be run automatically when removable
media, typically a USB memory stick, was inserted into a computer.
“Portable storage media started to become a noticeable threat last
summer,” comments Paul Brook, Managing Director of ESET UK. “Since
then it has gathered pace and continues to grow as a popular
infection vector with malware writers and it’s easy to see why. It’s
been drummed into users for so long now that email is the main
source of infection that users have forgotten the threats from
yesteryear when media such as floppy disks were the main concern.
Consequently, basic desktop protection is now often overlooked,
particularly by home users.”
Adware still features prominently in the top ten detected threats in
March, with variations of the pernicious Virtumonde steadfastly
refusing to budge. More than just a nuisance, Virtumonde is causing
misery to computer users that have had their machines compromised
because of inadequate protection.
“Some PC users report instances where this program has taken over a
system to such an extent, displaying so many unwanted advertising
windows, that the PC becomes all but unusable,” continues Paul
Brook. “The problem is exacerbated by the fact that if the malware
is not fully removed, it will try to replace registry keys and
malicious DLLS. There are generic tools available that can help, but
they need some knowledge to use safely.”
Top 10 Threats for March 2008
1 INF/Autorun – 10.30%
2 Win32/Adware.SearchAid – 4.42%
3 Win32/Adware.Virtumonde – 2.81%
4 WIN32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch – 2.07%
5 Win32/TrojanDownloader.Agent.KGV – 1.74%
6 Win32/IRCBot.AAH – 1.67%
7 Win32/Adware.Virtumonde.FP – 1.55%
8 Win32/Agent.NHE – 1.32%
9 Win32/Agent – 1.26%
10 Win32/Pacex.Gen – 1.23%
Nick Gibson, editor
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