Trend Micro Incorporated, a leader in network antivirus and content security software and services, has noted a 200 per cent growth in severe malware infections throughout 2007.

The Trend Micro Threat Analytics division logged this substantial increase in severe malware infections in the course of a year-long monitoring process, logging the number of infections each month per 1,000 personal computers between January 1 and September 1.

Malware is the generic name given for computer software which is designed to cause harm to computers or the interests of their users. Threats from viruses, remote access programs, PHP and visual basic scripts, backdoor Trojans and rootkits make up the bulk of infections logged. Common consequences are identity theft, unauthorised use of IT or financial fraud.

An infections graph released to TrendLabs Malware Blog (https://blog.trendmicro.com/) demonstrates a rapid increase in the sheer volume of malware in throughout 2007.

'Malware threatens both business and individuals. It can compromise systems, sometimes by making them work against their owners, while using complex rootkit techniques to make the malware virtually untraceable,' said senior technical engineer, Trend Micro Middle East and Africa, Samir Kirouani.

'My colleagues Anthony Arrott and Paul Ferguson did excellent work in analysing and preparing this material, showing us the increasing importance of keeping anti-malware scan engines as up-to-date as possible,' he added.Trade Arabia News Service