The Rise of Rootkits

2008-01-09T16:48:00-05:00

Prevx, Automated Malware Research and anti-malware company, has uncovered a large increase in the number of rootkit infections. According to their new research data as many as one in five PCs are infected.Rootkits are buried malware that go undetected by most security products.

They modify the operating system in order stealth the actions of themselves and other malware, giving cyber criminals complete access of a user’s computer. Rootkits are used in a wide variety of malicious attacks from phishing scams to zombie botnets. "Consumers and businesses now have a significant new threat to security and privacy to worry about. Rootkits are often undetectable and extremely difficult to remove.

Both detection and removal are well beyond the capabilities of traditional Antivirus, Antispyware and so called Internet Security Suites," said Jacques Erasmus, Director of Malware Research at Prevx.The informal research presented by Prevx is based on the number of companies and individuals who use their online scanner. More than 725,000 PCs were scanned during a two month period. Of the number of PCs scanned during October 2007, one in six computers was infected.

In December of the same year that percentage increased to 22% or more than one in five computers were infected by some form of malware.Also in December, the research showed that roughly 1 in 70 computers had a significant rootkit infection. This is fifteen times higher than the previous estimate of 1 in 1,000 computers infected by rootkits. "Computer security products are not foolproof.

Many PCs may be infected even though users and businesses have up to date antivirus and antispyware products," stated Mel Morris, Prevx CEO. "Users often don't realize something is amiss until they run a full antivirus scan of their PCs with updated signatures. Even then, rootkits will often go undetected.”However, the research does not take into account that individuals and businesses who actively seek out antivirus tools are in a high risk category for having possible malware infections in the first place.

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The Rise of Rootkits