[ news_security_news ]
Panda Software's Top 10 Viruses Of 2004
Jeremy L. Muncy
Staff Writer
2005-01-03
 Security News RSS Feed
Panda Software has released it's list of the top ten most frequently detected viruses by it's Panda ActiveScan in 2004. The data provided by Panda Software's free, online scanner throughout 2004 has demonstrated that Downloader.GK was responsible for some 14 percent of all attacks.
The Downloader.GK Trojan doesn't spread of its own accord, but is downloaded onto computers when unsuspecting users visit certain web pages and accept the installation of a specific ActiveX control. Downloader.GK installs and runs two adware programs on the computers it infects.
After Downloader.GK, the remainder of the Top Ten ranking of malicious code detected by Panda ActiveScan was comprised of Netsky.P (6.92%), Sasser.ftp (4.97%), Gaobot.gen (4.31%), Mhtredir.gen (4.22%), Netsky.D (3.98%), Downloader.L (3.56%), and in the last three places Qhost.gen (3.48%), Netsky.B (3.45%) and StartPage.FH (3.34%).
The following conclusions can be drawn from the data collected by Panda ActiveScan during 2004:
| Virus | % Frequency | | Trj/Downloader.GK | 14% | | W32/Netsky.P.worm | 6.92% | | W32/Sasser.ftp | 4.97% | | W32/Gaobot.gen.worm | 4.31% | | Exploit/Mhtredir.gen | 4.22% | | W32/Netsky.D.worm | 3.98% | | Trj/Downloader.L | 3.56% | | Trj/Qhost.gen | 3.48% | | W32/Netsky.B.worm | 3.45% | | Trj/StartPage.FH | 3.34% |
- The first time a Trojan has been the undisputed leader of the annual ranking.
Since it first appeared in June 2004, Downloader.GK has been the malicious code responsible for most attacks on users' systems, replacing worms as the primary threat and heralding the advent of a dangerous new trend in malware, as the impact of Trojans is on the increase. This is also manifest in the fact that four of the Top Ten are also Trojans, when in 2003 there were two, and in 2002 just one.
- The presence of Netsky.
Three of the Top Ten ranking are members of the Netsky family, (the P,B and D variants). The three share a number of characteristics, and as with many worms, they all spread via email in messages with variable characteristics.
- Vulnerabilities in the line of fire.
Four of the malicious code in this year's Top Ten use vulnerabilities in common software installed on computers in order to carry out their malicious action. This highlights the danger that these flaws represent and the need for users to install the patches provided by vendors to fix them.
About the Author:
Jeremy Muncy is the editor of http://www.SecurityProNews.com.
More news_security_news Articles
Security News RSS Feed
|
|
RSS
Archive
Contact Us
Advertise
