Security Company Sophos has released the findings of a study conducted on the members of its security network in July 2006. Sophos has found that the volume of malware threats via e-mails has dropped spectacularly but has addressed this problem advising against a false sentiment of security. With just one infected e-mail out of 222, the ratio of malicious e-mail traffic is as low as 0.45 percent, compared to a proportion of 1.1 percent, according to statistics for the first half of 2006.

"At a glance, the drop in the proportion of virus infected email may be misread as a sign that email is now a safer medium, but computer users and businesses shouldn't be fooled," explained Carole Theriault, senior security consultant at Sophos. "The reality is that the number of new threats is increasing by thousands each month. While there may be less viruses and worms in the actual email, hackers are spamming out messages that link to malicious websites where Trojan horses lie and wait for innocent victims. If businesses don't defend themselves they put their data, money and productivity levels at risk."

W32/Netsky-P, W32/Mytob-AS and W32/Bagle-Zip are the most prevalent malware threats encountered in July 2006 with 19.3%, 13.9% and 9.7% infected e-mails out of the total volume of traffic. Olympic torch, Hotmail hoax and Justice for Jamie are the top three hoaxes of the month ending today according to Sophos.

"Sophos identified 3,715 new threats in July, bringing the total of malware protected against to 184,007. The majority of the new threats (87 percent) were Trojan horses, while just 13 percent were
The dramatic reduction in viral email traffic indicates that malware authors are looking for other methods of infection. Hackers are turning away from mass-mailing viruses and worms in favor of more insidious Trojan horse targeted attacks aimed at smaller groups of users, spamming out links to malicious websites, and attempting to steal money and identities," warned Sophos representatives.