Spain and United States Top Global Ranking of Bot-Infected Computers, According to PandaLabs

Spain and United States Top Global Ranking of Bot-Infected Computers,
According to PandaLabs
- Cyber-crooks can remotely control bot-infected computers, using them to send
spam, propagate viruses, etc.

GLENDALE, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Panda Security, the Cloud Security
Company, today announced that PandaLabs, the company's laboratory for
detecting and analyzing malware, revealed that Spain, with an alarming 44.49
percent, tops the global ranking of computers that are infected with bots.
These programs, once they have infected a computer, allow hackers to take
remote control of the system and carry out a series of actions including
sending spam and downloading viruses, worms and Trojans, etc.

Next in the ranking, although a long way behind with 14.41 percent, is the
United States, followed by Mexico (9.37 percent) and Brazil (4.81 percent).
Those countries least infected include Peru, the Netherlands and Sweden, all
with ratios under 1 percent. The data has been compiled throughout the month
of October from users of the Panda ActiveScan - Panda Security's free, online
solution - and includes infections caused by any of the various families and
variants of bots. A graphical breakdown of the ranking of countries infected
by bots can be viewed here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/4075039318/.

According to Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs, "Along with
rogueware, botnets and zombie computers have increased by more than 30 percent
so far this year. This is the simplest way for a hacker to take control of
computers to distribute spam or malware, therefore making it more difficult to
trace and detect the real culprit. The problem is that owners of these zombie
computers will be committing crimes without realizing it, and could face
having their services withdrawn by their ISPs or even prosecution."

Panda Security recommends that consumers have a good antivirus solution
installed and up-to-date, as well as get a second opinion on the health of
their computers with Panda ActiveScan (www.activescan.com), a free online
scanner, to make sure their PCs are not infected with bots.

About PandaLabs
Since 1990, its mission has been to detect and eliminate new threats as
rapidly as possible to offer our clients maximum security. To do so, PandaLabs
has an innovative automated system that analyzes and classifies thousands of
new samples a day and returns automatic verdicts (malware or goodware). This
system is the basis of collective intelligence, Panda Security's new security
model which can even detect malware that has evaded other security solutions.

Currently, 99.4 percent of malware detected by PandaLabs is analyzed through
this system of collective intelligence. This is complemented through the work
of several teams, each specialized in a specific type of malware (viruses,
worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing, spam, etc.), that work 24/7 to provide
global coverage. This translates into more secure, simpler and more
resource-friendly solutions for clients.

More information is available in the PandaLabs blog: http://www.pandalabs.com.

SOURCE Panda Security

Shannon Walsh of Bateman Group, +1-415-503-1818, panda@bateman-group.com, for
Panda Security