Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Shows Malware Increases but Australia Cleaner Than Worldwide Average

Sydney, Australia — Dec. 11, 2008 — Microsoft Australia today released the fifth volume of its Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, providing an in-depth and unique view of the online threat landscape faced by Australians and based on data derived from hundreds of millions of computers worldwide.

The report shows that Australian computers are cleaner than the worldwide average, with 6.9 computers per thousand cleaned by Microsoft’s disinfection and security tools found to be infected with malicious software, compared to the worldwide average of ten.

More specifically, the report shows that the total amount of malicious software removed from Australian computers grew by over 55 per cent during the first half of 2008, when compared to the second half of 2007. Globally, the average growth rate was 43 per cent. Microsoft said that the increase in Australia and around the world could be attributed to two factors:

“The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report gives us a chance to share our extensive analysis of the threat landscape and related guidance with our customers, partners and the broader industry, helping ensure people are better informed and in turn protected,” said Stuart Strathdee, strategic security advisor, Microsoft Australia. “The research from the first half of 2008 shows that while Microsoft and others in the industry have made significant progress towards helping protect customers from malicious threats online, threats to businesses and consumers still continue to evolve. We are committed to applying the data and intelligence from the report to our research and response efforts to provide customers with increased protection and services.”

The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report also reveals that malware other than Spyware and Adware, such as rogue security software, is the most common category of threat accounting for 25 per cent of total infected machines. This figure increased 40.5 per cent during the first half of 2008. Threats from the second most common category, Trojan downloaders, currently accounts for 23.3 per cent of the total infected machines and increased 31 per cent when compared with the previous report. Adware, at 20.7 per cent, accounted as the third most popular category.

Consistent with the worldwide trend, Zlob, a Trojan downloader, is the number one threat in Australia, increasing 54.1 per cent during the first half of 2008. Vundo, a form of Trojan is the second most common threat, with disinfections increasing 1,184.8 per cent during the first half of this year. The third threat most commonly found was ZangoSearchAssistant, a form of Adware.

Australian Federal Police National Manager of High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan said that trend maps of this nature provide valuable intelligence to law enforcement agencies across the world. “It is important that law enforcement work closely with industry, including Microsoft, in the global fight against cyber-crime,” Mr. Gaughan said.

The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report demonstrates the progress Microsoft has made to better secure its software via its secure software development and security response processes. For example, Microsoft vulnerabilities in the first half of 2008 were down 33.6 per cent worldwide from the second half of 2007.

Based on the key findings from the report, Microsoft recommends customers use the data, insights and guidance in the report to better assess and improve their own security practices. Some of the active steps Microsoft recommends include the following:

Following customer feedback on previous reports, Microsoft took a different approach with this volume, creating a more reader-friendly core document accompanied by appendices that provide expanded explanations and analysis. A copy of Microsoft’s newest Security Intelligence Report and other related information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/sir.