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Netsky-P Is Most Widespread Piece of Malware in July 2006

Prevalent malware threats and hoaxes are causing problems for computers, reveals Sophos in its July report. The report says that while the Netsky-P worm, first seen in March 2004, remains the most widespread piece of malware transmitted via e-mail, the actual proportion of infected e-mail has dropped to a low of just one in 222 (0.45 percent).

Sophos identified 3,715 new threats in July, bringing the total of malware protected against to 184,007. The majority of the new threats 87% were Trojan horses, while just 13% were worms or viruses.

The top ten list of malware in July 2006 is depicted in the screen grab:

"At a glance, the drop in the proportion of virus infected email may be misread as a sign that email is now a safer medium, but computer users and businesses shouldn't be fooled," explained Carole Theriault, senior security consultant at Sophos. "The reality is that the number of new threats is increasing by thousands each month. While there may be fewer viruses and worms in the actual email, hackers are spamming out messages that link to malicious web sites where Trojan horses lie and wait for innocent victims. If businesses don't defend themselves they put their data, money and productivity levels at risk."

The top ten hoaxes and chain letters in July 2006 are depicted in the screen cast: