emailed Malware Surged Post Rustock Takedown

from JoeUser Forums

 

Amazing as it might seem, malware distributed by email surged 400% after Microsoft helped take down the Rustock botnet central servers at the end of March.

However, zombie attacks dropped sharply.

What I found most amazing was that email-attached malware made up almost 30% of the total email sent!

I believe that was because a major malware propagation route was taken down, along with secondary spread (victim to victim) occurred also in this period.

You can read more here: http://www.net-security.org/malware_news.php?id=1692

12,185 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What I found most amazing was that email-attached malware made up almost 30% of the total email sent!
End of quote

If I'm reading their summary right it looks like a big piece of that spike might have been the botnets trying to re-establish themselves. (Quoted from your link just to show what I'm looking at): "Zombie activity also dropped significantly after Rustock was taken down, but large increases of enslaved computers became evident following the malware outbreak at the end of the quarter."

Does anybody know what a "Parked domain" is?  I'm wondering what they're referring to when they say this: "Parked domains were the website category most likely to contain malware."

Interesting read.  Sure is a lot of spam out there.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting DaveRI, reply 1
Does anybody know what a "Parked domain" is?
End of DaveRI's quote

Generally speaking, an unused domain which just goes to advertisements/links.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ah, thanks.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

My understanding was the same as DaveRI's.  It was not surprising, but still sad.  I wonder how many computers were re-infected by "Aunt Ida" clicking on those attachments/links in the emails?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most likely far too many I'm afraid. People are fond of receiving stuff in their emails. I know I was when I first got into this. I know better now.