Gorinchem, January, 31st, 2007 - Sophos, a world leader in IT security, has revealed the most prevalent malware threats and email hoaxes causing problems for computer users around the world during January 2007.
The figures, compiled from Sophos's global network of monitoring stations, show that the recently discovered Dorf malware has had a massive impact on computer users worldwide, rampaging to the top of the monthly malware threat chart and accounting for almost 50 percent of all malware seen during January.
The Dorf malware was aggressively spammed out posing as breaking news of deaths caused by stormy European weather during January. Later in the month the authors changed tack and launched a further campaign disguising the malware as a romantic email greeting card. Elsewhere in the top ten, the Netsky, Mytob and Stratio malware remain rooted in second, third and fourth place respectively, between them accounting for one third of all malware reports.
The top ten list of malware threats in January 2007 reads as follows:
1. Dorf: 46.1%
2. Netsky: 16.1%
3. Mytob: 9.8%
4. Stratio: 8.5%
5. Zafi: 3.6%
6. MyDoom: 2.8%
7. Sality: 2.6%
8. Bagle: 2.5%
9. Nyxem: 1.0%
10. Wukill:0.8%
Others: 6.2%
Sophos has so far seen more than 2500 variants of the Dorf malware - almost a third of the new threats identified during January 2007. The majority of these variants were intercepted by Sophos's proactive Behavioral Genotype Protection technology even before they were formally identified as belonging to the Dorf family of malware.
Marnix van Meer, Director of Sophos Benelux explains: "Mostly the fact that the Dorf malware generated more than 2500 new variants on such a short notice, reflects the need for specialised techniques to detect mutants without any updates required. As a major IT security provider, we are constantly trying to answer this need by developing new applications. Companies should be aware of the fact that it used to take weeks or even months before a new variant popped-up. Today, we see more than 2500 variants in only 10 days time."
The proportion of infected email, while substantially higher than in December 2006, is still small at just one in 238 (0.42%), while during January Sophos identified 7,272 new threats, bringing the total number of malware protected against to 214,956.
The top ten hoaxes and chain letters in January 2007 were as follows:
1. Hotmail hoax: 28.8%
2. Olympic torch: 16.9%
3. Justice for Jamie: 3.1%
4. Budweiser frogs screensaver: 2.9%
=4. A virtual card for you: 2.9%
6. Bonsai kitten: 2.5%
7. Applebees Gift Certificate: 1.7%
=7. Meninas da Playboy: 1.7%
9. Bill Gates fortune: 1.4%
10. MSN is closing down: 1.3%
Others: 36.8%
Graphics of the above top ten virus chart are available at
www.sophos.com/pressoffice/imggallery/topten/ The Sophos Security Threat Report 2007, which discusses the most prevalent families of malware and malware hosting countries in more detail, can be downloaded from:
www.sophos.com/report2007For more information about safe computing, including anti-hoax policies, please visit:
www.sophos.com/virusinfo/bestpractice/About Sophos Benelux
Sophos Benelux, a Sophos distributorship located in Gorinchem, is dedicated to providing Sophos solutions and services to its partners, resellers and customers in the Benelux region. Sophos is a world leader in integrated threat management solutions, developing protection against viruses, spyware, spam and policy abuse for business, education and government.
About Sophos
Sophos is a world leader in integrated threat management solutions, developing protection against viruses, spyware, spam and policy abuse for business, education and government. Sophos's reliably-engineered, easy-to-operate products protect more than 35 million users in more than 150 countries. Through 20 years' experience and a global network of threat analysis centers, the company responds rapidly to emerging threats - no matter how complex - and achieves the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry.
For more information or for interview requests, please contact:
Sophos
Marnix van Meer
Tel: +31 655700255
m.vanmeer(at)sophosbenelux.com
Creative Strategies
Elke De Ridder
Tel: +32 2 267 41 60
ederidder(at)creative-strategies.be
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