Slashdot Mirror


US Leads the World In Malware Creation

PetManimal writes "Symantec says that China, Russia, and the other developing countries usually blamed for the increasing amount of malware are not the biggest culprits. The security software company released a report (PDF) claiming that the US leads the world in a number of malware categories, ranging from the 'amount of malicious activity originating from their networks' to 'underground economy servers.' Preston Gralla says the US lead should come as no surprise, considering the capitalist way of life and the high level of technical knowledge. He also suggests that the some of the 'criminals' may actually be Internet entrepreneurs who crossed over to the dark side: 'It's an inevitable result of a thriving free market and tech expertise. An underground economy often mirrors the legal, above-ground one. Scratch a criminal, and sometimes you find a misguided entrepreneur, looking to get rich a little too quick.'"

11 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Look who's calling the kettle black. by d2_m_viant · · Score: 4, Funny

    Takes one to know one. Symantec's software has all the qualities you'd ever want in a well crafted piece of malware.

    1. Re:Look who's calling the kettle black. by pookemon · · Score: 2, Funny

      It makes the pot an expert... ;)

      --
      dnuof eruc rof aixelsid
  2. Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I figured it was because of a certain Redmond company, personally... :)
    The only question then being whether or not Windows was counted *as* malware...

    1. Re:Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I recall thinking it was the height of cleverness as a teen to write a "virus" that upgraded Windows 95 by installing FreeBSD :)

      Never released it, though.

  3. Yeah, software! by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Funny

    But don't forget high speed pizza delivery too!

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  4. Oh, yeah! Teh U-S Rulz! W00T! We Rock! by mmell · · Score: 5, Funny
    Uh, what do you mean, this isn't a good thing? We're finally number one at something in IT again (other than outsourcing, that is) and it's a bad thing? That sucks . . .

    That said . . . in your face, China, Russia and the other developing countries - in your face!

    Oh, and a slight aside to the /. eds - I suspect that both the Chinese and the Russian people would be *ahem* amused at having their respective countries referred to as "developing countries". Just sayin'

  5. Windows? by Bob54321 · · Score: 3, Funny

    We all know that Microsoft makes the most common malware known to computing. There was never really any competition to stop the USA getting the title.

    --
    :(){ :|:& };:
  6. Excellent! by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least we still lead the world in something! Take that, Indian outsourcing companies.

  7. Re:No surprise here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Since when is criticism equal to hate?

    Criticism is equal to hate when your IQ is below 60. Or if you're a member of the Bush administration.

    Sorry for the repetition.

  8. way too go! by Kerstyun · · Score: 0, Funny

    The ol red white and blue aint dead yet! Suck on that, Indier!

    U-S-A! Num-ber-1!
    U-S-A! Num-ber-1!
    U-S-A! Num-ber-1!

    --
    Keep the whitehouse white, vote Trump & Palin 2020.
  9. Re:misguided? by Mipoti+Gusundar · · Score: 0, Funny

    it phones home with all of your pertinent keystrokes name, email, credit card + secret number, account #s, social, DOB, passwords
    This is why India is not top of malwares leauges - we are already having all these infos in our call senters!
    --
    Will code for new sig.