Identifying malware 'increasingly hard'

2009-11-05

Detecting malware and then avoiding it is becoming increasingly difficult, it has been suggested.

Tom Kelchner, research centre manager at Sunbelt Software, has said that malware creators are becoming more creative with their methods of producing malicious code.

They are trying to get around antivirus and other malware prevention measures, according to Mr Kelchner, who advised internet users to "be vigilant and to ensure their antivirus applications are fully up to date".

The most recent definition files and the latest application version should also be installed, the expert advised.

He asserted that malware prevention services are continuing to provide a successful defence against malware, but now it is "more important than ever" to have antimalware programs in place.

His comments come after the seventh edition of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report revealed that scareware, or rogue security software, has remained the single largest threat category for Microsoft customers in the first half of 2009.

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