Computer Infection via Websites Surging

Kaspersky Lab has recently released its Monthly malware Report for the month of August 2009. As per the report, China witnessed the highest number of computer infection attempts via web at 39.4%, while the US occupied the second slot at 8.7%. India ranked third as it recorded 7.2% of total attempts of infecting computers via websites.

In view of rising number of malware attacks, Kaspersky projected growth of 20 folds in malware dissemination for 2009, and the currently available statistics hold its forecast true.

The trend observed in August actually a trail of what had been detected in July 2009 when cyber criminals exploited vulnerabilities in famous security products. Basic iframe clickers and bogus antivirus applications are making headways at a fast pace. The trend is unlikely to change in the next month as cyber criminals have found these vectors extremely successful and profit generating.

According to the report, fake antivirus applications spread via a number of malicious web pages and one script that has facilitated in their (AV software) propagation held 12th slot on the list. Kaspersky has detected this script as 'Trojan-Downloader.JS.FraudLoad.d.' When a computer user visits a website containing the malicious script, he gets a pop-up message indicating to several malicious codes on his system. He also receives a notification that these codes will be eliminated provided he downloads rogue antivirus (called FraudTool).

Another Trojan Redirector.l performs by divering users request to particular server in a bid of raising hit on these servers. The Trojan-Downloader application 'Iframe.bmu' is a malware that contains a number of exploits for Adobe products.

Alexander Gnatusin, Director, Channel SA, Kaspersky Lab, said that while the percentage of infected computers via web was growing in India, the number of malware originating from China was rising at a much faster rate. For instance - a couple of renowned banks were hit by different types of treats, as reported by CIOL on September 8, 2009.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Brighton, India is fast becoming a hub of cyber crime because a large number of computer literates have lost their jobs owing to recession and are engaging in electronic scams. China, Russia and Brazil are the leaders in cyber world but individuals and groups in India striving to compete with them.

Related article: Computer Virus Writers Adopt New Strategy

» SPAMfighter News - 9/21/2009