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Data stealing malware is on the rise

The majority of malware attacks on the internet can be linked to data and identity theft, it has been claimed.

According to a new report released by Trend Micro, the recent rise in cybercrime is linked to the harvesting of personal data and the fastest growing category of malicious code is Trojans.

The research shows that in 2007, 52 per cent of data-stealing malware attacks were carried out by Trojans.

However, according to Trend Micro's Focus Report: Data Stealing Malware, that figure climbed to 87 per cent in 2008.

"Virtually anyone with a computer and internet access can wreak havoc," said Paul Ferguson, senior threat researcher at the firm.

"Smaller organizations have a limited IT budget and few IT staff so they hire a third party to build a web site. Over time, the site fails to be maintained or upgraded, exposing vulnerabilities," he added.

A recent spam attack, which used the Air France crash to entice readers, carried a password-stealing Trojan, according to Websense.

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