The volume of malware is merely a by-product of distribution and purpose. This can best be seen by tracking the number of known samples based on the era in which it occurred. For example, during the late 80s most malware were simple boot sector and file infectors spread via floppy disk. With limited distribution and less focused purpose, unique malware samples recorded in 1990 by AV-Test.org numbered just 9,044.
As computer network adoption and expansion continued through the first half of the 90s, distribution of malware became easier and malware volume increasd. In 1994, AV-Test.org reported 28,613 unique malware samples (based on MD5).
As technologies standardized, certain types of malware were able to gain ground. Macro viruses which exploited Microsoft Office products not only achieved greater distribution via email, they also gained a distribution boost by the increased adoption of email. In 1999, AV-Test.org recorded 98,428 unique malware samples.
As broadband Internet adoption increased, Internet worms became more viable. Distribution was further accelerated by increased use of the Web and the adoption of so-called Web 2.0 technologies which fostered a more favorable malware environment. In 2005, AV-Test.org recorded 333,425 unique malware samples.
Increased awareness in Web-based exploit kits led to an explosion of Web-delivered malware throughout the latter part of the millennium's first decade.
In 2006, the year MPack was discovered, AV-Test.org recorded 972,606 unique malware samples. As automated SQL injection and other forms of mass website compromises increased distribution capabilities in 2007, malware volume made its most dramatic jump, with 5,490,960 unique samples recorded by AV-Test.org in that year.
Since 2007, the number of unique malware has continued exponential growth, doubling or more each year since. Currently, vendors estimates of new malware samples range from 30k to over 50k per day. Put another way, the current monthly volume of new malware samples is greater than the total volume of all malware from 2006 and previous years.
Antivirus / Security Revenue
During the "sneakernet" era in the late 80s and early 90s, antivirus vendor revenues were collectively less than $1B USD. By 2000, antivirus revenues had increased to ~ $1.5B.
While some may point to the increasing antivirus/security vendor revenues as "proof" that antivirus vendors profit from (and thus create) malware, the math itself does not bear out this conspiracy theory. In 2007, for example, antivirus revenues grew by 131% - but malware volumes increased 565% that year. Additionally, antivirus revenue increases are also the result of new companies and expanding technologies (for example, security appliances and cloud-based security developments).
As computer network adoption and expansion continued through the first half of the 90s, distribution of malware became easier and malware volume increasd. In 1994, AV-Test.org reported 28,613 unique malware samples (based on MD5).
As technologies standardized, certain types of malware were able to gain ground. Macro viruses which exploited Microsoft Office products not only achieved greater distribution via email, they also gained a distribution boost by the increased adoption of email. In 1999, AV-Test.org recorded 98,428 unique malware samples.
As broadband Internet adoption increased, Internet worms became more viable. Distribution was further accelerated by increased use of the Web and the adoption of so-called Web 2.0 technologies which fostered a more favorable malware environment. In 2005, AV-Test.org recorded 333,425 unique malware samples.
Increased awareness in Web-based exploit kits led to an explosion of Web-delivered malware throughout the latter part of the millennium's first decade.
In 2006, the year MPack was discovered, AV-Test.org recorded 972,606 unique malware samples. As automated SQL injection and other forms of mass website compromises increased distribution capabilities in 2007, malware volume made its most dramatic jump, with 5,490,960 unique samples recorded by AV-Test.org in that year.
Since 2007, the number of unique malware has continued exponential growth, doubling or more each year since. Currently, vendors estimates of new malware samples range from 30k to over 50k per day. Put another way, the current monthly volume of new malware samples is greater than the total volume of all malware from 2006 and previous years.
Antivirus / Security Revenue
During the "sneakernet" era in the late 80s and early 90s, antivirus vendor revenues were collectively less than $1B USD. By 2000, antivirus revenues had increased to ~ $1.5B.
- 2001 - $1.8
- 2002 - $2.06B
- 2003 - $2.7B
- 2004 - $3.5B
- 2005 - $4B
- 2006 - $8.6B
- 2007- $11.3B
- 2008 - $13.3
- 2009 $14.8B
- 2010 - $16.5B
While some may point to the increasing antivirus/security vendor revenues as "proof" that antivirus vendors profit from (and thus create) malware, the math itself does not bear out this conspiracy theory. In 2007, for example, antivirus revenues grew by 131% - but malware volumes increased 565% that year. Additionally, antivirus revenue increases are also the result of new companies and expanding technologies (for example, security appliances and cloud-based security developments).
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