ScanSafe has released a virtual global map that displays, almost in real time, the threats that the security team discovers and neutralizes. The map is updated every minute and shows the place of origin for each threat, the type of malware that is detected, and also the date and time when ScanSafe detects and blocks it.

"The Web 2.0 environment is a dynamic one and we wanted to provide an equally dynamic map of the threats confronting today's Web surfers," says Mary Landesman, senior security researcher at ScanSafe. "The beauty of Threat Spy is that it captures up to date, detailed information on threats shortly after they are blocked. This not only provides timely insight into existing, new and emerging Web-based threats - it also helps demonstrate the critical importance of real-time Web scanning."

Considering the fact that the company blocks, on average, 100 million pieces of malware every month, its clients may want to know what threatens them, as well as which the sources of the threat are. If, until now, people were used to rather boring reports over the monthly activity of different security firms, Threat Spy makes the sharing of the information more user-oriented.

"Threat Spy allows the public to take a step away from the volumes of data showing the increasing dangers of the Web and actually see the malware being blocked every day in different places around the world," comments Landesman. "We reported a 278 percent increase in malware in the first half of 2008 and this innovative map visualizes this worrying increase. We hope the map will demonstrate how dangerous the threat landscape is and will prompt companies to take action."

End-users could have a single reason to complain about Threat Spy - the threats are being displayed at a great speed and, most of the times, people don't have enough time to read the details provided by ScanSafe.