Rootkit malware activity is on the up

INSECURITY FIRM PandaLabs reported registering a 62 per cent annual increase in rootkit activity in 2006, and says the outlook for 2007 is bleak.

The firm reckons amount of malicious code using rootkit techniques is already up 25 per cent on last year and predicts an overall increase this year of around 40 per cent.

According to the Panda league of the most dangerous threats, February's malware includes three rootkit horrors: Bagle.HX, Abwiz.A and Nurech.A.

"Rootkits are becoming increasingly popular among malware creators, particularly for spyware and banker Trojans," said a spokesPanda.

Rootkits can evade detection by traditional antivirus and anti-spyware security systems, and are therfore right dodgy, he said.

Proactive protection is needed to block the threats based on the malicious code, he recommends. Like the stuff Panda makes µ

L'INQ
pandasoftware.com