IE8 malware filter hits new record, proves malware growth
By Luciana on July 26, 2010 | Computer Security, IE8, drive-by-downloads, online security, anti-malware filter, anti-phishing filter, Smartscreen Filter, Microsoft
People at Microsoft must be very proud as the malware filter for the Internet Explorer 8 proves to be highly efficient. The Smartscreen Filter has blocked one bilionth malicious download since the launch in 2009. The number is definitely worth a bottle of champagne, but (along with the other statistics) it raises some concerns.
It took approximately 6 months for SmartScreen Filter to block 70 million potential risks. The year hadn't passed since then and we see the numbers skyrocketing. During the last 11 months IE8 caught more malware a month than it did in a six months last year. Before applauding Microsoft for a good job improving the tool we should notice the tendency of malware growth in cyber media. I have no doubt the company worked well to boost the efficiency of SmartScreen Filter but the number of malicious downloads shows not only how the tools works but it also indicates how tools like that are essential these days. According to researchers , websites hosting drive-by-downloads doubled during 2009, and 2010 apparently brings even more threats.
SmartScreen Filter and similar browser plugins checks reputation of every website at the tool's database and warns user if the source is or might be considered suspicious. If a person choose to visit the particular website anyway, the tool blocks downloading of every file without an additional approval. This kind of cyber security measures slows down one's web surfing, but it saves the user from unwanted applications and problems.
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