IE8 SmartScreen malware blocks exceed 70m

2009-08-17

Internet Explorer 8's (IE8) SmartScreen Filter has provided more than 70 million malware blocks in the first four months following the product's official launch, it has been reported.

In news that may concern those looking to avoid an IT intrusion, Eric Lawrence wrote on the IEBlog that the cumulative total now stands at 80 million malware blocks.

This is proof of how widespread socially-engineered malware attacks on the internet are today, Mr Lawrence stated.

IE8 is also providing a malware block for around one out of every 40 users per week and in the region of one of every 200 downloads is blocked as malicious.

Mr Lawrence added: "80 million blocks is an incredible number of attacks thwarted - each malicious download blocked helps prevent compromise of that user's computer."

A recent report published by Panda Security revealed that the average lifespan of more than half of malware is 24 hours or less.

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