Panda Software has announced the results of a study revealing that up to 70% of malware is used for theft purposes.
Additionally, the research conducted in the first quarter of 2006 shows that financial gain has become the top priority in the world of those who “create” malware, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, or spyware.
Panda Software’s study also confirms the shift in the purpose of malware usage. A few years ago, such software was often used to gain notoriety or expose specific security vulnerabilities.
“But now, malware has become a tool for illicit profit,” the Panda research asserts.
The behaviors aimed at seeking fame or showcasing technical skills that were prevalent in the past have faded away. Now, these actions are solely performed to serve one objective: to deceive for profit by exploiting the latest technologies.
Panda Software also warns that hackers are shifting from using email attachment viruses to employing other forms of malware that are harder to detect.
Forty percent of the security issues detected by Panda are related to spyware. This is a type of malicious code designed to collect data from users’ online activities.
Seventeen percent are Trojans, including “banker Trojans” which are aimed at stealing sensitive data related to banking services or assisting in downloading spyware onto users’ systems.
Eight percent are “dialers”—a type of malware that allows dialing at rates beyond the user’s awareness—or bots, which are systems of personal computers (PCs) taken over by hackers.
Email viruses now account for only 4%. “Email-based worm outbreaks can attract a lot of public attention but are not used for financial objectives,” asserts Luis Corrons, director of PandaLabs.
Currently, the most commonly used types of malware are spyware, Trojans, or bots—software capable of automatically installing and hiding within systems without the user’s knowledge.
Hoàng Dũng
