Many companies are trying to prevent leakage of personal and classified information by building independent networks isolated from the Internet, as viruses are often transmitted via files attached to e-mail or those on the Internet. However, USB drives are often used on unspecified computers, so viruses can immediately spread.

Antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc. has found that reported computer virus infections via USB flash memory drives more than doubled in September, Jiji Press learned.

Infections in the month with the Otorun worm, which propagates via removal drives such as USB drives, surged 140 percent from the previous month to 347 cases, Trend Micro said in a monthly survey report.

The company's monthly reports showed that viruses transmitted via USB drives began to rapidly increase in February, with the number of Otorun infections in January-June reaching 517, the most popular to far exceed 201 cases of the Agent, Trend Micro said.

The company said that 53.7 pct of viruses newly found in September were capable of sneaking into computers via USB drives.

Such viruses are becoming a great threat because most people are not aware of them, the security Relevant Products/Services software firm warned.

Many companies and public organizations are trying to prevent leakage of personal and classified information by building independent networks isolated from the Internet, as viruses are often transmitted via files attached to e-mail or those on the Internet.

However, USB drives are often used on unspecified computers, so viruses can immediately spread even in an independent network.

Trend Micro calls on computer users to regularly check virus infections on not only internal hard disk drives but also USB flash drives and not to carelessly use these flash drives on unspecified machines.

Original Article

This entry was posted by Justin Payton on Thursday, October 30. 2008 at 10:33. and is filed under Adware, Spyware and Trojans.