Malicious codes have been causing one of the most significant security challenges for the users of the Internet since its inception. Every year, security practitioners are amazed by the cheer volume of the new security threatening activities. 2008 was no different.
The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report indicated that they created 1,656,227 new malicious code signatures 2008, accounting for a 165 percent increase over 2007. While there are many reasons why we see so many new threats,
Symantec attributed the explosive growth to the
professionalism of malicious code development, which is fueled by the demand for goods and services that facilitate online fraud.