NetXactics, local distributor for Sophos, a world leader in protecting businesses against spam and viruses, has revealed the top 10 viruses and hoaxes causing problems for businesses around the world.
The report, which examines virus and hoax reports in the month of February 2004, shows MyDoom-A slip off the top spot, to allow for Sober-C`s return to the number one position.
The top 10 viruses in February 2004 were as follows:
1. W32/Sober-C (Sober variant) 35.3%
2. W32/MyDoom-A (MyDoom worm) 25.3%
3. W32/Netsky-B (Netsky variant) 7.8% (new entry)
4. W32/Bagle-B (Bagle variant) 5.3% (new entry)
5. W32/Dumaru-A (Dumaru worm) 2.6%
6. W32/Mimail-J (Mimail variant) 2.4%
7. W32/Mimail-C (Mimail variant) 1.8%
8. W32/Mimail-Q (Mimail variant) 1.1%
9. W32/Bagle-A (Bagle worm) 1.1%
10.W32/Gibe-F (Gibe variant) 1.0%
Others 16.3%
"Sober-C, which first topped the chart in December, returned to the top slot again this month ahead of the high profile worms MyDoom-A, Netsky-B and Bagle-B," said Brett Myroff, CEO of NetXactics.
"Sober-C travels via e-mail and peer-to-peer networks and is continuing to spread widely. Protection against this worm has been available for months - those falling victim should consider automating their anti-virus updates in order to beef up their defences."
"My-Doom-A, which created a possessed zombie army, knocking SCO`s Web site off the internet, took second place and might have hit the top of the chart this month had it not expired on 12 February," continued Myroff. "Its variant MyDoom-B attempted a similar onslaught on Microsoft`s Web site, however, this worm caused few infections and didn`t even make Sophos`s top 10. This month also saw the fight against computer crime stepped up, with Microsoft offering $250 000 to catch the author of Mydoom-B and the arrest of female virus writer Gigabyte in Belgium."
Sophos analysed and protected against 869 new viruses in February. The total number of viruses Sophos now protects against is 88 288.
The top 10 hoaxes reported to Sophos during February are as follows:
1. Hotmail hoax 17.3% (seventh month at number one)
2. Meninas da Playboy 15.7%
3. JDBGMGR 10.1%
4. Budweiser frogs screensaver 6.2%
5. Bonsai kitten 5.5%
6. A virtual card for you 3.7%
7. WTC Survivor 3.6%
8. Bill Gates fortune 3.4%
9. Elf Bowling 3.2%
10.Applebees Gift Certificate 2.8%
Others 28.5%
"Businesses need to remain vigilant against hoaxes. While the Hotmail hoax simply acts as an e-mail chain letter, other hoaxes pose a much more serious threat, often convincing users to delete files from their computers," continued Myroff.
Graphics of the above top 10 virus chart are available at: www.sophos.com/pressoffice/imgallery/topten
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NetXactics is a South African-based company, focused on the provision of security solutions. It is the sole distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa for UK-based Sophos Plc, one of the leaders in the provision of anti-virus and anti-spam software for the corporate environment. For more information, visit www.netxactics.co.za.
Sophos
Sophos is one of the world`s largest specialist developers of anti-virus and anti-spam software. Headquartered in the UK, the company designs solutions specifically to protect businesses and organisations, including large corporations, banks and governments, from viruses and spam.
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