Postini Alleges Major Virus Attacks Promotes Global Spam Growth

Following a month's respite, unsolicited emails resurfaced with vengeance in April 2007. Spam emails rose by 135 percent and 36 percent since September 2006 and January 2007, respectively.

Postini Communications, a Security company declared in April this year that these major email virus strikes, intended to increase botnet networks, promoted a sustained growth of worldwide spam. In April, over 93 percent of overall email traffic was spam and malware; as indicated by the bulletin PRNewswire issued on May 7, 2007.

The increase in net-delivered security risks is proven by a 34.4% growth in adware, spyware and other equally unsolicited software this month. Postini asserted that the recent spam explosion was biggest one that year, exceeding three previous upsurges. The identical malware, known as Storm Trojan or Peacomm, also contributed to these spam upsurges.

Storm Trojan emerges as a secured attachment to a message with heads like "Spyware discovered!" and "Virus Activity found". The email states that this condensed file with a .zip attachment is a patch to block virus. A picture file is appended with an access code to open the compressed file.

"The continually mutating malware and nasty stuff on sites, prompt companies to dedicate real time security against malware and improper message. Internet security systems that depend on net surfing or occasional searching of net for dangers instead of checking the URL whenever it's inquired can leave clients compromised," alleged Daniel Druker, Postini's Executive Vice President-Marketing, indicated a handout issued by PRNewswire on May 7, 2007.

Ten leading Viruses for April are: netsky: 5,829,826 nuwar@mm!zip: 4,824,606 nuwar: 3,465,057 generic new malware.br: 11,620,130 nuwar@mm!rar: 2,174,403 mime: 1,947,776 Trojan.adub: 5,204,015 malware.a!zip: 2,850,391 stration: 2,566,748 sober: 1,538,261.

Total viruses in April 2007 contain: 47,778,729 Leading Internet Scanning Blocks by Category: Chat & Instant Messaging: 23.20% Search & Websites: 11.36% Business & Services: 6.40% Hosting & IT Services: 5.00% Music: 4.68% Blogs / Newsgroups: 3.82% News & Magazines: 3.68% Erotica: 3.49% Dating & Relationships: 3.34% Movies & TV: 3.12%.

As per Postini, variants of the identical malware detected in email virus hits are being progressively hosted on sites in first quarter of 2007.

Related article: PhishTank System – System To Catch Phish

» SPAMfighter News - 5/16/2007