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Instant messaging poses a growing malware threat

Instant messaging has experienced a growth in the number of spam messages and links to malware being sent, it has been claimed.

According to Symantec's MessageLabs, one in 78 links contained in instant messages redirect users to websites hosting malware and viruses.

The firm claims this represents a huge increase when compared with figures released six months ago, when just one in 200 links were malicious.

Paul Wood, the company's senior analyst, said: "The increase in instant messaging - largely a result of Captcha breaking technology allowing bad guys to set up bogus accounts and direct victims to a malicious website - is a challenge that businesses need to get a grip on."

Meanwhile, recent research from the University of Alabama in Birmingham showed that seven of the top ten spamming domains originate from China.

Gary Warner, director of the university's research programme into spam, said: "I truly believe that the Chinese government would not willingly tolerate this horrible situation."

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