Malware Hits Enterprises

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- A new messaging security field study confirms the need for Zero Hour(TM) Virus Outbreak Protection, Commtouch(R) (Nasdaq:CTCH) announced today.

Email-borne malware such as viruses, Trojans and worms have successfully penetrated 84% of enterprises, according to a new report by Osterman Research Inc. The report, Messaging Security Market Trends, 2006-2009, surveyed over 100 medium to large companies about their exposure to messaging security threats.

"Virus attacks are much more aggressive and sophisticated than in the past, with zombies distributing rapid, broadly based attacks, with multiple variations of each virus," said Michael Osterman, Principal of Osterman Research. "The best way for companies to avoid being hit is to implement a pro-active virus protection solution that does not rely on signatures. Commtouch is one of the leading vendors addressing this problem."

Commtouch's Zero-Hour Virus Outbreak Protection software successfully detects malware outbreaks during the crucial early hours of an outbreak, often well-before new anti-virus signatures or heuristics rules to block the virus are available.

A new trend has emerged among malicious software writers and distributors: creating multiple variants of each virus and sending them in far-reaching multiple waves of spam outbreaks. "In the first three weeks of July, 2006, the Commtouch Global Detection Centers have detected and blocked some 235 distinct variants of the Mytob malware. This means, on average, 11 new variants each day, with each variant being circulated in dozens to thousands of copies worldwide," said Amir Lev, CTO of Commtouch. "We have also detected 12 new variants of the Lovegate malware, 10 variants of Netsky, 42 of Feebs, 110 of Scano, 127 different Trojan variants, and with each new month the list just gets longer."

Commtouch Software Ltd.