Spyware attacks triple in 2005

Spyware attacks tripled and Trojan attacks more than doubled in 2005, new research shows.

Spyware threats grew from 1,082 in 2004 to 3,389 in 2005, representing a surge of more than 213 per cent, while Trojan threats grew from 1,455 in 2004 to 3,521 in 2005 - a 142 per cent rise, according to security vendor Aladdin Knowledge Systems.

Its report, Aladdin eSafe CRST (Content Security Response Team) 2005 Malicious Code Report: The Big Threats Shift, showed that viruses and other threats including email worms grew from 6,222 in 2004 to 9,713 in 2005, an increase of 56 per cent.

Shimon Gruper, vice president of technologies for the Aladdin eSafe Business Unit, says the spike in spyware - malicious software designed to take control of aPC’s operation without the informed consent of the user often for purposes of fraud - represents the fast-growing network of organised criminals using computers rather than physical theft.

He says the upswing in spyware and Trojans – malicious programmes designed as legitimate software to trick users to execute them - is causing havoc for consumers and organisations.

‘It serves as further evidence that electronic threats are becoming much less of a game and more of a concentrated effort designed to steal identities and data,’ he said.

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