Makers of Panda Antivirus Say One Third of all Malware Created in 2010

Panda Security, the maker of Panda Antivirus, has published an interesting summary of the state of malware in 2010. The report is from PandaLabs, the anti-malware laboratory for Panda Security. PandaLabs is the nerve center that supports users of Panda Antivirus to secure them from fast-breaking malware threats. The report reveals that a third of the threats squelched by Panda Antivirus in 2010 were created in 2010.

Antivirus software is necessary now more than ever as malware propagates. The publishers of Panda Antivirus report that of the 134 million unique files in the PandaLabs database, 60 million are malware. Trojans make up 56 percent of the malware samples. Viruses and worms follow. And a new category, fake anti-virus software, has risen during the preceding four years to be 11.6 percent of all malware. The most common methods to infect computers now are through black hat search engine optimization techniques, social media and zero-day vulnerabilities. A zero-day virus is a freshly hatched virus that security vendors have not yet identified, so they inflict damage until the security vendors deploy antidotes.

Social media hacks are on the rise. Facebook is the source of the majority of malware infections, followed by YouTube and Twitter. Panda Antivirus users should be happy learn that PandaLabs recently uncovered and helped to take down a network that sells bots specifically designed to attack social networks and webmail services.

A particularly ominous development is the rise of state-sponsored threats. Stuxnet, for example, is malware deployed as a cyber weapon that attacked an Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr. Stuxnet also attacked a facility that enriches uranium in Natanz. Stuxnet seems to have been able to infect and damage the enrichment centrifuges in Natanz. Because of its complexity, many have speculated that it was deployed with nation-state support of some kind.

Another example of state-sponsored threat is Operation Aurora, an attack that originated in China. As a result of the cyber attack, Google was hacked by the Chinese government in attempt to access the email addresses of users considered to be Chinese dissidents. Aurora exploited vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer to install a Trojan that enabled remote access of confidential information. South Korea has established a command center to fight cyber attacks from China and North Korea. And the United States has created a branch of the U.S. military dedicated to cyber security, the Navy Fleet Cyber Command.

Another frightening 2011 development that users of Panda Antivirus should be aware of is the discovery and dismantling of one of the largest botnets ever discovered. The Mariposa botnet consisted of almost 13 million infected computers in 190 countries. Three criminals controlled the network, which was able to extract confidential information. Panda Antivirus users will be interested to know that Panda Security assisted with the dismantling of the Mariposa botnet by cooperating with the FBI and the Spanish Civil guard.

The 2010 Annual Report from PandaLabs is a fascinating read that should reassure Panda Antivirus users that Panda Security is a trusted ally in the ever-changing malware wars.

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