The growth of malware

FreewheelinFrank · 2008-01-25T08:06:42.000Z

[b]The growth of malware[/b]
Interesting data from Andreas Marx at AV-Test.org. This chart shows the growth of unique samples (by MD5) per year.

Year # of unique samples (MD5)
1985 564
1986 910
1987 389
1988 1,738
1989 2,604
1990 9,044
1991 18,384
1992 36,822
1993 12,287
1994 28,613
1995 15,988
1996 36,816
1997 137,716
1998 177,615
1999 98,428
2000 176,329
2001 155,528
2002 199,049
2003 178,825
2004 142,321
2005 333,425
2006 972,606
2007 5,490,960

http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/growth-of-malware.html

szc · 2008-01-26T01:18:47.000Z

This is also pointing out that last few years there is more and more people with too much free time on their hands and with nothing wise to do, so they are spending more and more time on developing these computer nasties. I really can’t understand what kind of satisfaction they find in what they do… some sick people out there. I just hope one they when they grow older, they will (at least then) realize how much free time of their life they actually wasted out.

system · 2008-01-26T07:55:29.000Z

IMHO, a lot of malware is out their for a reason.Firstly a lot of money is made using it,from stealing information,identity theft,fraud,etc,using zombie computers,to send spam,ddos attacks,adware,the list is endless.Also,I may be paranoid,but i believe,also,that some of it is distributed by the industries,whose profits are hurt by p2p sites,( cracks,free films,music) etc.I think the days of some nerd,creating viruses,for fun,are in the past.Malware is big business.

szc · 2008-01-26T13:15:30.000Z

micky77 post:3:

IMHO, a lot of malware is out their for a reason.Firstly a lot of money is made using it,from stealing information,identity theft,fraud,etc,using zombie computers,to send spam,ddos attacks,adware,the list is endless.Also,I may be paranoid,but i believe,also,that some of it is distributed by the industries,whose profits are hurt by p2p sites,( cracks,free films,music) etc.I think the days of some nerd,creating viruses,for fun,are in the past.Malware is big business.

Great point Micky77 !!! And I don’t believe you are being paranoid a bit, all you said about those industries (movie chains, music industry etc.) is nothing but true. I am 110% sure they are involved in this big time… OK, maybe not directly but I am positive they are hiring viruses/trojans/malware creators to do the dirty job for them. Who gives them rights to do that. That equals to any other crime out there. Not everybody is stealing their music/videos on the net, and on the other hand, literally everybody is affected with their actions. If something like that ever comes to a daylight, I am sure a lot of things will have to change.

And to add… don’t forget software houses as well. They are also trying to protect their software, but what they are doing is also totally illegal. They are suffering because few hundred thousands people are stealing their programs, and we are suffering because few millions of people is forced to deal with malware they are spreading out.

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