Taking spot in BitDefender’s monthly hall of shame is the malware Trojan.AutorunInf.Gen.

BitDefender, a company which produces anti-malware security solutions, produces a monthly e-threat report in which it lists the latest malware baddies.

And top throughout February was the Trojan.AutorunInf.Gen which is what’s known as a generic mechanism which uses removable devices – including external hard-disks, memory cards and flash drives – to spread malware between devices.

Removable devices are the theme of BitDefender’s February e-report and they warn against the ease by which these handy aids can be compromised. Indeed, say BitDefender, they are responsible for around 9% of global infections.

Catalin Cosoi, BitDefender’s senior researcher, said:
“External devices should be scanned on a regular basis. This safe practice should be used especially when these devices have been plugged into library computers, copy shops, and other public locations that are known to be likely sources of infection.”

Conficker, or Kido, or to give its correct title, Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen, is proving very resilient, appearing regularly in the nasties line-up.

Catalin Cosoi, BitDefender’s senior researcher, added:
“The continuous presence of Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen — also known as Conficker or Kido — in our monthly e-threat lists proves most users are reluctant to update their operating system and locally-installed antimalware solution, in addition to installing the security fixes issued by Microsoft more than a year ago. Newer variants of the worm also install rogue antivirus applications, amongst others.”

Coming third and fourth in the list is to gain access to a computer via manipulated PDF files and various vulnerabilities found in the Adobe PDF Reader JavaScript engine. Once they have compromised a computer, malicious code is then executed from the ‘dirty’ machine.

The complete list is made up of:

1. Trojan.AutorunINF.Gen 9.09
2. Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen 6.24
3. Exploit.PDF-JS.Gen 5.13
4. Exploit.PDF-Payload.Gen 4.21
5. Trojan.Wimad.Gen.1 3.37
6. Win32.Sality.OG 2.77
7. Trojan.Autorun.AET 1.92
8. Worm.Autorun.VHG 1.85
9. Exploit.Comele.A 1.48
10. Trojan.SWF.HeapSpray.B 1.40

BitDefender was particularly keen to highlight the invidious threat called Trojan.Wimad.Gen.1, sitting at number five. This is one Trojan that likes to hide in favourite downloadable television series and movies.

Guest Article by Neil Camp