Gawkwire: Web Hosting and Internet News Resource: The Rise of Rootkits

The Rise of Rootkits
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David_Dunlap on 09 January, 2008 07:48:00
 
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.