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story category 37% Of Malware Originates In U.S.
We're also responsible for 17.5% of all spam
(old news - 10:26AM Tuesday Dec 23 2008)
tags: business · security · stats
The Sophos 2009 Security Threat Report (pdf) doesn't paint a particularly pretty picture of the United State's contributions to the world of malware. According to the report, the U.S. hosts 37% of the world's malware websites, and also leads the world in spam output at 17.5 percent. "Not only is the USA relaying the most spam because too many of its computers have been compromised and are under the control of hackers, but it's also carrying the most malicious Web pages," Graham Cluley of Sophos tells the Tech Herald.

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Forums » 37% Of Malware Originates In U.S.
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Lazlow

join:2006-08-07
Saint Louis, MO


1 edit

Homeland security

I wonder how much of this is due to the FBI pulling almost all the agents they had in white collar crime to work for Homeland security? Pulling the agents would have been fine temporarily but they never bothered to replace those agents. Many agents were pulled from other areas as well, which leaves me to wonder if we will a rash of similar effects (organized crime)?

cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
·Verizon FIOS

Figures...

So 63% of US computers are not relaying malware, and for the place that invented the internet, it only spams 17.5%? I'd say those are good numbers.

Malicious web pages are likely from holes in web servers (likely running unpatched and compromised).

Still I think Sophos is just pandering its wares. Do you think so too? Studies showed that more web attacks will increase but email virus will decline. Sophos is saying email is on the increase.

I'm amazed at how many users don't know what BCC is, why they insist on sending to all their friends some stupid links, and don't understand to have a router (updated) and virus software (that isn't 6 months expired). Plus find it acceptable to go to sites they have no idea about nor like to click away. There is so much free anti-malware, antispyware and website that will check your pc.

Everyone should just buy a mac (sarcasm).
--
Weeeeeeee!

kontos
xyzzy

join:2001-10-04
West Henrietta, NY

78% of statistis are made up 84% of the time

I didn't RTFA, but the statistics in the write-up are meaningless without context.

Think of the following contexts:
If the U.S. hosted 92% of the world's websites, but only 37% of the malware ones, it would be evidence that the U.S. based hosting companies are doing quite well at combating the maiware problem.

Otherwise, if you drop the overall web hosting rate for the U.S. to 4% of the world's sites, a 37% rate would be very bad.
ja2007123

join:2007-10-06

Russia

where does Russia come into play?

NetAdmin
CCNA

join:2008-05-22

Re: Russia

They simply use or setup hosting operations in the US.

Google a company called Atrivo and you'll see all sorts of information about this hosting front for the Russians.

»blog.stopbadware.org/2008/08/28/···filiates
--
"This is a bus. You know how big a bus is?"

swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: Russia

I don't know whether it is the report or the writeup, but at least the writeup is misleading. If "the U.S. hosts 37% of the world's malware websites", that does not mean that "37% Of Malware Originates In U.S.".

In fact, a lot of malware is written in and deployed from (originates in) countries which produce a lot of talented and increasingly money-hungry (and unscrupulous) young hackers. The US is falling behind in this regard, with inferior education in general and kids (well, teenage and young-adult males, mostly) more inclined to be youtube potatos than technical experts.

In fact, the US number represents vulnerable hosts - sorta the opposite of computer prowess like malware-writing ability.
jester121

join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL

Well hell....

It's a good thing our broadband infrastructure sucks so much, if we had faster pipes we'd be dumping out the spam even faster.
TF

join:2008-12-17


1 edit

Re: Well hell....

Yeah, I would have to agree with you on that. It just really blows my mind that some of the other higher speed countries don't have as much spam coming from them.

I do know some countries are more strict on spammers than others, perhaps the US really doesn't have an interest in going after spammers.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net

We All Know this is


Barney
President Bush's fault. This is a money making enterprise put together by Bush, Carl Rove, Dick Cheney, with the help of Halliburton. Also the New York Time is about to reveal the Nigerian letter scam is being operated by none other then Barney Bush's Scottish Terrier.
--
I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.
- Mark Twain in Eruption
voipdabbler

join:2006-04-27
Kalispell, MT

Reform domain name practices.

Far too many overseas presences, and I don't just mean individuals but cartels too, easily get a US-based domain name and hire US-based hosting services so that they appear to be US-based. Maybe it's time to reform issuance of domain names to strictly reflect in which country the registrant legally resides. (Yes, I'm proposing no more quick, easy online registration--require registrars to collect information confirming legal residence or incorporation and keep it on file with respective national authorities.) You can get a hosting service anywhere, but your country of origin will follow you through the domain name.

As criminal enterprises continue to use the Internet to increase the level of trans border fraud and other criminal activities (like conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and other violence), expect to start seeing international calls for more strictly regulating the Internet. It's bound to happen.
joeMI

join:2006-08-15
Mcmillan, MI

Re: Reform domain name practices.

I agree.

And each country should maintain a black list of people who have been kicked off a web server or had ISP service canceled due to illegal activity.

Sort of like what we do for credit checks. You can't get a loan from any financial institution in the country if you have been bouncing checks all over town.

Why should you be able to sign-up for internet access and get web sites and web servers if you have been convicted of spamming, malware, pirating movies, etc.

And ALL sex related sites should be forced to have a common extension such as xxx or meta tag data so that it is easy to filter content for children. Violators get 1 warning and after that, are kicked off the internet.

And I especially like the domain registration criteria of the poster above. That way, if I don't want sites from a certain country due to high spamming or whatever, I can choose not to visit there. Today, there is no way to know who is really behind a particular web site.

I'll get off my soap box now.
--
HughesNet | Business Internet plan | HN7000S | .98m/2W | G17 91W:1050MHz | 88 sig | ACP 99 | 1.5Mbps/385Kbps
Insder
There never was a second I in my name
Premium
join:2005-04-27
Salem, MA

Re: Reform domain name practices.

You had me up until sexual content on it's own domain. Parents should be, well..god...parents! Let them police their kids, no need to filter sexual content into it's own little box.
--
The one, the only, the Insder. :: Fighting phishing for life.
Tarnacha

join:2008-11-03
Boston, MA

So how many americans connect to the Internet?

I suspect it will be around 30% of all Internet/Connected users. That makes this story lose its legs.

s0tet

join:2005-06-08

Re: So how many americans connect to the Internet?

I don't have the percentage to cite, but China's share of malware has dropped. Though I am no big fan of Mainland Chinese government by any means and more does need to be done on the Chinese end of things in regards to the Internet, I do think it should be noted, the Chinese are taking some steps to clean up their Internet infrastructure.
Forums » 37% Of Malware Originates In U.S.


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