HCMCity (VNA) - Computer viruses caused losses of 10.4 trillion VND (470million USD) in 2016, surpassing the 8.7 trillion VND the year before,according to the latest report from the BKAV Technology Group. Ransomware,viruses spreading through USB, spam messages and cyber attacks were majorproblems last year, the report said. Ransomwareis computer malware that installs covertly on a victim’s computer, executes acryptovirology attack, and demands a ransom to decrypt it or not publish it. Lastyear saw a boom in ransomware, with 16 percent of emails having ransomware, 20times the 2015 figure. Virusesspreading through USBs continued to grow in 2016 despite the efforts ofMicrosoft to cut the “auto run” function. Around 83 percent of USBs had beenaffected by viruses last year, the same as in 2015. Around16 million computers were affected by viruses through USBs. Lastyear 50 percent of users persisted with their habit of opening file attachmentsin emails, the same as the year before. Inthe report, BKAV appreciated the efforts of Facebook and mobile phone serviceproviders to restrict spam messages. Anadvanced persistent threat (APT), a network attack in which an unauthorisedperson gains access to a network and stays there undetected for a long periodof time, was another threat, one that successfully attacked Vietnam Airlines inJuly. Thethreat has been recorded since 2012, with BKAV discovering many APTs turning upon the systems of businesses and other organisations after malware was sent byhackers. BKAVpredicted that in 2017 there would be more APT attacks on businesses andorganisations.

Malwarewould increase in mobile phones and the Internet of Things like router wifi andcamera and IP.-VNA