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Computer Virus Incident Report for the First Half [From January to June] of 2011
July 15, 2011
IT Security Center
Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA)
This is the report on computer virus for the first half of 2011 (from January to June), compiled by Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA).
1. Number of Cases Reported
The number of cases reported in the first half of 2011 (from January to June) was 6,461. The graph below (Figure 1) shows the trend in the semiannually (i.e., six months') figures for the cases reported to IPA.
As shown in Figure 1, the number of cases had been on the decrease until the first half of 2011, when the figure increased from the second half of 2010.
Chart 1: Trend in the Number of Cases Reported to IPA
2.Number of Viruses Detected
When we look at the yearly transition of the number of viruses detected, we can see that while it was on the decrease in 2010, it repeated up and down in the 2011. One of the reasons is that the detection count of W32/Netsky, for which the largest number of reports have been submitted to IPA, remained roughly flat throughout the year.
Meanwhile, detection count of W32/Autorun increased significantly in July 2010 and so did W32/Gammima in June 2011. These viruses have a feature to spread infection through a network or external storage media such as USB memory, so if one PC is infected, the infection could spread in no time. So we need to watch out for them.
Apart from W32/Netsky or other viruses that are still prevalent, new type or subspaces of a virus might emerge and be distributed by e-mail in large quantity. So we need to be careful about handling email attachments.
Chart 2: Trend in the Virus Detection Count
3.Number of Cases Reported, Classified by Computer Viruses
Looking at the trend in virus report count, we can see that as in the past, there have been a large number of reports concerning W32/Netsky. From September 2010 to January 2011, reports concerning W32/Autorun, which spreads infection through USB memory, were on the rise. You should be aware of the possibility of a virus being contained in your convenient USB memory.
To prevent damages caused by these viruses, be sure to apply security patches, use antivirus software, and handle email attachments with care as well as to implement security countermeasures for USB memory on a daily basis.
Chart 3: Trend in the Number of Cases Reported, Classified by Computer Virus
Inquiries to:
IT Security Center, Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA/ISEC)
Tel:+81-3-5978-7591
Fax:+81-3-5978-7518
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