Malware infections are on the rise.

A report that was done by PandaLabs found that there were twice as many malware infections in 2014 compared to the year before. What’s even worse? 2015 will likely seen that number increase again.

Who’s Affected?

There were plenty of security stories making headline news in 2014. CryptoLocker was a high-profile example of ransomware, and Trojans are still the most common form of injection. In fact, they account for about 70% of all new malware created. Viruses are typically the most well-known and feared forms of infection, but they actually make up only 12% of new infections.

The Numbers Keep Growing

• There were more than 75 million new malware samples detected by Panda Security, and they recorded an average of 200,000 new strains of malware every single day.
• It’s also important to note that desktops aren’t the only devices being targeted. There’s been a major increase in cybercriminals targeting mobile devices. Android has found itself the most targeted operating system likely due to its majority market share.
• In general, there was a huge increase between 2013 and 2014. The fear now is that the number will only grow through 2015.

Prevention

Companies and home users need to be more aware and protected than ever before. Malware will do serious damage, and many companies that suffer significant downtime due to IT issues end up going under. Businesses need to increase their security and continue to focus on protection and prevention. How will you do this? Locking down point-of-sale systems, seeking out and identifying vulnerable apps and systems that need updating, and informing employees about how to detect and avoid scams.

To talk with an IT company about keeping your business protected from malware and other dangerous security threats, contact us or by phone or email.