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McAfee
today released the McAfee
Threats Report: Second Quarter 2011, showing that the amount of
malware targeted at Android devices jumped 76 percent since last
quarter, to become the most attacked mobile operating system. 2011 has
also resulted in the busiest ever first half-year in malware history,
including a first-ever appearance of Mac fake AV and a significant
uptick in rootkits, suggesting that McAfee’s comprehensive malware “zoo”
collection will reach a record 75 million samples by the year’s end.
“This year we’ve seen record-breaking numbers of malware, especially on
mobile devices, where the uptick is in direct correlation to
popularity,” said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs.
“Overall attacks are becoming more stealth and more sophisticated,
suggesting that we could see attacks that remain unnoticed for longer
periods of time. High-profile hacktivist groups have also changed the
landscape by drawing a line between attacks for personal gain and
attacks meant to send a message.”
The report also details specific activity shaping the way cybercriminals
operate, such as cybercrime “pricebooks” that determine the going rate
for large email address lists, and acts of hacktivism and cyberwar.
2011 On Track to Reach Record “Malware Zoo”
With an approximate 12 million unique samples for the first half of
2011, a 22 percent increase over 2010, this has been the busiest first
half-year in malware history. With the addition of Q2’s numbers, the
grand total of total malware samples in McAfee’s database has reached
approximately 65 million, and McAfee researchers estimate that this
“Malware Zoo” will reach at least 75 million samples by the year’s end.
Android Nabs Top Spot for Most Mobile Malware
With the vast amount of personal and business data now found on user’s
mobile phones, mobile malware is steadily increasing, often mimicking
the same code as PC-based threats.
In the second quarter of 2011,
Android OS-based malware surpassed Symbian OS for the most popular
target for mobile malware developers. While Symbian OS and Java ME
remain the most targeted to date, the rapid rise in Android malware in
Q2 indicates that the platform could become an increasing target for
cybercriminals – affecting everything from calendar apps, to comedy apps
to SMS messages to a fake Angry Birds updates.
Fake Anti-Virus for Apple, Rootkits and Stealth Malware Reach New
Terrain
There are more Mac users than ever before, and as organizations
increasingly adopt Macs for business use, Apple now has become more a
target for malware authors. Though historically the Apple platform has
been unaffected by fake anti-virus (fake AV) software, activity in Q2
indicates that it is now being affected. Although this type of fake AV
is the first of its kind, McAfee Labs does expect fake AV in general
will drop off over time.
Another malware category that is demonstrating recent steady growth is
stealth malware. The tactic of hiding malware in a rootkit is used by
cybercriminals to make malware stealthier and more persistent, and has
seen this type of attack gain in prominence over the past year, with
high-profile attacks such as Stuxnet. Stealth malware has increased more
rapidly in the last six months than in any previous period, up almost 38
percent over 2010.
Acts of Hacktivism and Cyberwar Make Their Mark
Acts of hacktivism, primarily from the groups Anonymous and LulzSec,
were among some of the most prominent cyber news generators for Q2. The
report details hacktivist activity from Q2, with at least 20 global
attacks reported in Q2 alone, and with the majority allegedly at the
hands of LulzSec. The report also outlines acts of cyberwar that
occurred in Q2, including attacks on United States’ Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, and an attack on South Korea’s National Agricultural
Cooperative Federation.
Email “Black Market” for Spammers
Though spam is still at historic low levels, due in part to the Rustock
takedown, McAfee Labs still expects to see a sharp rise in activity over
the coming months. A common method for cybercriminals to increase their
volume of spam activity is to purchase a bulk list of emails in order to
flood as much spam as possible to a widespread group of people. Whether
it’s a botnet or a rental service, prices vary for such enterprises,
often by location. For instance, in the United States, the going rate
for 1 million emails is $25, whereas in England 1.5 million emails are
worth $100.
For more information on trends related to hacktivism, cyberwar, web
threats and malware, please download a full copy of the McAfee
Threats Report: Second Quarter 2011 at http://www.mcafee.com/us/resources/reports/rp-quarterly-threat-q2-2011.pdf
About McAfee
McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), is
the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee
delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure
systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world, allowing users
to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the Web more
securely. Backed by its unrivaled Global Threat Intelligence, McAfee
creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the
public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance
with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify
vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security.
McAfee is relentlessly focused on constantly finding new ways to keep
our customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com.
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Article source: http://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/McAfee-Q2-2011-Threats-Report-Shows-Significant-Growth-for-Malware-on-Mobile-Platforms-1340655
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