| Global and European Threat Statistics: INF/Autorun Most Widespread Malware Again |
| SOFT / SECURITY / Thursday, 31 March 2011 08:05 |
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BRATISLAVA - Based on statistical information collected by ESET ThreatSense.Net in the month of February, INF/Autorun (5.53%) ranked in the top position among the analyzed cyber-threats. The second most prevalent malware worldwide was Win32/Conficker (3.785), followed by Win32/PSW.OnLineGames (2.17%).
INF/Autorun is a label ESET uses to describe a variety of malware using the autorun.inf file as a way to compromise a PC. This file contains information on programs meant to run automatically when removable media (often USB flash drives) are accessed by a Windows PC user. Removable devices are useful and very popular, with malware authors well aware of this fact, as INF/Autorun’s frequent status as the number one threat clearly shows.
The Win32/Conficker is a network worm originally propagated by exploiting a recent vulnerability in the Windows operating system. While ESET has effective detection for Conficker, it is important for end users to ensure that their systems are updated with the Microsoft patch, which has been available since the third quarter of 2008, so as to avoid other threats using the same vulnerability.
Win32/PSW.OnLineGames.is a family of trojans used in phishing attacks aimed specifically at game-players: this type of trojan comes with keylogging and (sometimes) rootkit capabilities which gather information relating to online games and credentials of participants. Win32/Sality is a polymorphic file infector and the fourth most widespread type of malware globally over the past month. When executed, it starts a service and creates/deletes registry keys related to security activities in the system and ensures the start of malicious process with each reboot of the operating system.
Global Threats According to ESET ThreatSense.Net® (February 2011)
 EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA (EMEA)
INF/Autorun, as for the last few months, remains one of the most dominant threats in the EMEA region. In Europe it was the most widespread type of malware in February with a penetration-rate of 4.63%. It was the top-ranked malware in South Africa (9.24%), Poland (6.39%), Israel (6.16%), Ukraine (5.6%), Lithuania (5.56%), Russia (4.89%) and Austria (3.84%), among other countries.
Win32/Conficker continued to be a major nuisance in many parts of the region, topping rankings in Bulgaria (8.13%). In Germany, users were for the second month in row most exposed to Java/TrojanDownloader (3.06%), a type of malware that is also the most prevalent in the United Kingdom (5.52%). This Trojan is written in Java script and it tries to download additional malware from the Internet.
Threats in Europe According to ESET ThreatSense.Net® (February 2011)
 About ThreatSense.Net®
ThreatSense.Net® is ESET’s in-the-cloud malware collection system utilizing data from users of ESET solutions worldwide. This continual streaming of information provides ESET Virus Lab specialists with a real-time accurate snapshot of the nature and scope of global infiltrations. Careful analysis of the threats, attack vectors and patterns serves ESET to fine-tune all heuristic and signature updates ̶ to protect its users against tomorrow’s threats.
About ESET
Founded in 1992, ESET is a global provider of security solutions for the home and business segment. The industry leader in proactive malware detection, ESET NOD32 Antivirus holds the world record for the number of Virus Bulletin "VB100 Awards," never to have missed a single “In-the-Wild” worm or virus since the inception of testing in 1998.
ESET has headquarters in Bratislava, Slovakia, regional centers in San Diego, USA; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Prague, Czech Republic; Singapore and malware research centers in Bratislava; San Diego; Prague; Krakow, Poland; Montreal, Canada and Moscow, Russia. ESET has extensive partner network in more than 180 countries. The company is continuously named by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the region of Europe, Middle East and Africa.
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 31 March 2011 08:09 |
