-=PCTechTalk=- The silent epidemic of 2005: 84% of malware on computers worldwide is spyware - 02/25/05
- From: "Mike" <mikebike@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:07:29 -0800
Free on line scan by Panda ActiveScan
From Panda; Oxygen3:
"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past."
William Faulkner (1897-1962); US novelist.
- The silent epidemic of 2005: 84% of malware
on computers worldwide is spyware -
Oxygen3 24h-365d, by Panda Software (http://www.pandasoftware.com)
Madrid, February 25 2005 - Panda Software has launched the new free version
of Panda ActiveScan, its online scanner. This new version not only detects
and eliminates viruses, worms and Trojans but can also root out spyware,
applications that can gather personal information about the computer user,
such as the information stored on the PC, web pages viewed, passwords, etc.
These malicious programs can then send this data out to third-parties, such
as advertising companies.
During the first 24 hours in which the new Panda ActiveScan (available at
www.pandasoftware.com) was operating, 84 percent of malware detected was
spyware and the first 74 most detected malicious code were all spy=
programs.
In fact, this type of application has even overtaken the Downloader.GK
Trojan, which had topped the ranking for the last eight months.
The data then shows that users' PCs now contain more spyware than viruses.
First place in the ranking is now held by ISTBar, present in almost 16
percent of the computers scanned. After this come other spy programs such=
as
Dyfuca, Cydoor, New.Net, AltNet, BetterInet, or the veteran BargainBuddy,
which are all intensely active around the globe.
Spyware is becoming one of the worst threats that users are up against
nowadays. "This is a silent epidemic and one that users are not taking
seriously enough," says Luis Corrons, director of PandaLabs. "Its effects
can be just as harmful as those of viruses, and can range from theft of
confidential data, changes to settings of certain applications, system
slowdown due to excessive use of resources, system instability, etc..."
The new Genetic Heuristic Engine
In addition to detecting spyware, the new Panda ActiveScan is now even more
powerful, as it includes the Genetic Heuristic Engine, a new heuristic
detection technology from Panda Software integrating correlation of digital
genetic signatures and deep code inspection in an algorithm that analyzes
the code and characteristic DNA strings of the malware. "In its first 24
hours of operation the Genetic Heuristic Engine has proved to be highly
effective, detecting hundreds of new and unknown malicious applications=
with
no need for signature file updates and no false positives," explains
Corrons.
Genetic Heuristic Engine is part of TruPrevent(tm) Technologies, the most
intelligent technologies to combat unknown viruses and intruders, developed
by Panda Software. With this new heuristic engine, to be integrated in the
whole range of solutions in March and April, the company is once again at
the forefront of technology for protecting against unknown threats. More
information about TruPrevent(tm) Technologies at
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/truprevent_tec/
Panda Software's anti-spyware technology
Panda Software offers clients its anti-spyware technology integrated
throughout its product range. Home users, businesses and professionals,
small to mid-sized companies and large corporations all have purpose-built
products that not only include pro-active detection of viruses, worms and
Trojans with TruPrevent(tm) Technologies, but also detect and disinfect
spyware.
Titanium 2005, Platinum Internet Security 2005, BusinesSecure,
EnterpriSecure and GateDefender all offer highly effective protection
against the new spyware epidemic.
Spyware: a difficult threat to combat
Spyware programs have a series of traits that makes them difficult to=
detect
and enables them to install themselves on numerous PCs for long periods of
time:
- They use almost perfect camouflage systems. They are normally installed=
on
computers along with another kind of application: a P2P client, a hard disk
utility...
- File names don't normally give any clues as to the real nature of the
file, and so they often go unnoticed along with other legitimate=
application
files.
- As they are not viruses, and they don't use a routine that can be
associated with them, antivirus programs don't detect them unless, like
Panda Software product range, they are designed specifically to do so.
Spyware can be detected through the effects it has on systems: use of=
system
resources resulting in a slowdown of the PC; high level of Internet
connection bandwidth consumption; complete loss of the connection or=
general
system instability. They also often change settings of certain=
applications,
such as the browser home page, or insert icons on the desktop.
The main consequence of spyware on PCs is the gathering of information,
including confidential details, making users feel uneasy about what is
happening in their computer behind their backs.
If these effects are cause for concern in home computers, in corporate
environments they can result in serious financial losses, given the time
taken by IT staff to resolve the problem and regain control of the system
and the loss of productivity of employees trying to work their way through
the annoying distractions that these programs create (redirecting websites,
pop-ups, etc). More serious still, the theft of confidential information,
including passwords, means that administrators need to keep a constant=
watch
over each and every computer to prevent this kind of attack.
NOTE: The addresses above may not show up on your screen as single lines.
This would prevent you from using the links to access the web pages. If=
this
happens, just use the 'cut' and 'paste' options to join the pieces of the
URL.
------------------------------------------------------------
The 5 most frequently detected viruses by Panda ActiveScan, Panda=
Software's
free online scanner: 1)Mhtredir.gen; 2)Netsky.P; 3)Downloader.GK;
4)Downloader.AQN; 5)Shinwow.E.
------------------------------------------------------------
To contact with Panda Software, please visit:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/about/contact/
------------------------------------------------------------
Mike the mod ~ It is a good day if I learned something new.
Editor MikesWhatsNews see ~ http://www.mwn.ca
<mikeswhatsnews-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=3Dsubscribe>
See my Anti-Virus pages
<http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/mikes_virus_page.htm>
<virusinfo-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=3Dsubscribe>
A Technical Support Alliance & OWTA Charter Member
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