Security Firm Warns About Historic Malware Levels

Updated Aug. 11, 2010

On a day when Microsoft issues a massive security update, McAfee publicizes its second-quarter date, which shows malware is permeating the Internet on mega scale, according to Website Magazine.

The magazine reports McAfee isolated six million malware cases in Q2 – that’s 10 million for the first half of 2010.

Microsoft’s security update included 14 security bulletins. Eight are designated as “critical” and six are deemed “important.” In all, there were 34 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Silverlight, Microsoft XML Core Services and Server Message Block.

“The most frequently used malware included threats on portable storage devices, fake anti-virus software, software specifically targeted at social media users, AutoRun malware and password-stealing Trojans,” writes Linc Wonham, Website Magazine’s associate editor. “McAfee reported that approximately 55,000 new pieces of malware appear every day around the world.”

He reports spam is down after peaking at almost 175 billion messages per day in Q3 2009.

“The most popular forms of spam in the U.S. were delivery status notifications or non-delivery receipt spam, which was also the case in Great Britain, China, Australia, Italy, Spain, Germany and Brazil. Argentina had the world’s highest number of different spam topics with 16, according to McAfee’s report,” he explains.

So, if Microsoft hasn’t updated your computers, get busy. For solutions on malware, see: What You Must Do to Combat the Malware Epidemic.

From the Coach’s Corner, if you want more tech-security information, search for the name, Dr. Stan Stahl, on this site. You’ll find voluminous, useful information.