The strange decline of computer worms

Well, if people are missing worms...I could write one and sent it out


J/K

 

I believe the author is speaking about Network Worms, i.e., worms that spread via NetBIOS, LSASS, RPC, etc. type vulnerabilities associated with Networking. Worms like Sasser, Blaster, Nimda, Slammer, Welchi and Code Red are ones he mentions as examples; those are all worms that spread via network vulnerabilities. The "garden-variety" mass-mailing worms, that spread via email, are just as prevalent as ever; if anything they have increased. So have the worms like Bropia which spread via instant-messaging {MSN, AIM, etc.}.

 

vnunet article

"IM viruses increase by 50 per cent a month

Instant messaging security threats are growing by 50 per cent each month and could potentially spread across the globe in seconds.

According to research from anti-virus firm F-Secure, virus writers are targeting instant messaging application due to their ability to spread malicious code faster than email worms.

Where as the Sasser email worm took 14 minutes to compromise 95 per cent of all vulnerable PCs around the world, instant messaging worms could infect all IM using computers in just 14 seconds.

The anti-virus firm claims to have detected 200 instant messaging worms, plus more than 700 trojans, backdoors and password stealers that target the application.

'IM worms don't waste time scanning machines that are not infectable they only target other IM using machines,' said Patrick Runald, technical manager at F-Secure.

With analyst firm IDC predicting that 506 million people will use instant messaging by 2008, this could present new security concerns for IT departments.

'As IM grows and comes into corporations it could become more of a risk,' said Runald.

Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure's director of anti-virus research, told Computing that more than 50 per cent of last year's largest viruses were designed by criminals to make money and that mobile viruses could become a greater focus for organised crime outfits.

'PCs don't have in-built billings systems but mobile phones do,' said Hypponen. 'Mobile malware can be designed to infect phones and message premium rate toll numbers. You'll only find out about it when you get your next phone bill.' "

So one could say that you need to be careful out there. Pete