Adware and Java Trojans Ruled the Web Threat Scenario in December 2010

As per the latest statistics revealed by the Kaspersky Lab, Java based downloaders and adware programs were the most prevalent risks that emerged on the Web World during December 2010.

AdWare.Win32.HotBar.dh was one threat that occurred most frequently during 2010. This adware attempted to infect nearly 203,975 different users. It encompassed ClickPotato, HotBar, and Zango was the major risk overall, including each group.

Besides, other two samples of adware, AdWare.Win32.FunWeb.fq and AdWare.Win32.FunWeb.di, infected fewer users with 70,088 and 36,187 different instances respectively.

The second most prevalent threat that was encountered during December 2010 was Trojan-Downloader.Java.OpenConnection.cf with nearly 140,009 detections. It was a dropper, which utilizes the OpenConnection technique of an URL class to install malicious software onto the system.

One more variant identified as Trojan-Downloader.Java.OpenConnection.bu ranked 7th with 70,006 around distinct instances. However, at one particular instance, during an entire day in December 2010, these Java-based downloaders activated around 40,000 detections.

At No.3, stood the notorious rogue IFrames, which injected themselves into the hacked websites. Further, two JavaScript pop-ups and redirect scripts ranked at fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Moreover, new report highlights that for the first time a malware ridden PDF file that utilizes Adobe XML Forms has entered the list of Top 20 online threats. When a netizen opens the file named Exploit.Win32.Pidief.ddl, a script exploit is immediately launched, which downloads and runs one more malware from the Internet. Exploit.Win32.Pidief.ddl grabbed the 11th position in December's (2010) rating of risks originating from the Internet.

Interestingly, December (2010) also provided anti-virus firm the opportunity to observe cybercriminal activity because it acclimatized to a novel Russian Internet domain. November 2010 witnessed the initiation of domain name registration in this particular zone of the Internet.

Online scammers emerged most actively in the new domain, registering websites that were utilized to circulate malware ridden programs and make fake attractive offers. Conclusively, the firm highlighted the three types of malicious programs, that were identified as the most prevalent ones during the concerned period: fake archives similar to music, film, and other related media content; dummy programs pretending as beneficial services for the Odnoklassniki social networking website; and script Trojans that again directed netizens to malware ridden web pages.

Related article: Adware And spyware On A Rapid Increase

» SPAMfighter News - 1/13/2011