Virus peril shifts from email to websites

Companies will now need web filtering techniques to effectively block malware

Malware authors are turning away from email attachments and attempting to lure victims to specially crafted websites from which malware is downloaded.

Email security vendor BlackSpider Technologies has seen a drop in the number of virus-laden emails since the beginning of this year. June set a new record with 0.68 per cent of total email traffic, down from 0.73 per cent in May. 

Total spam volume is also on the decline. Unsolicited messages accounted for 87.7 per cent of May's total email traffic and dropped to 78.1 per cent in June.

BlackSpider warned that the shift towards hosting viruses on the web will demand a change in security policies.

Enterprises commonly filter email messages for viruses and Trojans, and need to expand this with web filtering techniques to effectively block malware.