In its 2007 data security summary, F-Secure reports a steep increase in the amount of new malware detected during 2007. In fact the amount of cumulative malware detections doubled during the year, reaching the amount of half a million.

While no truly new malware technologies were seen the existing ones were refined and adapted for much greater effectiveness. Social engineering remains a key method for propagating malware, and more productive malware development tools and kits are increasingly used by the criminals.

Financial transactions remain a favourite target for network crime. The amount of phishing sites continues to increase, but as bank customers have become more aware of this threat, the criminals have started employing more sophisticated techniques. One example of this is banking trojans that use methods such as injecting themselves directly into the browser application (Man-in-the-Browser attacks).

Also the vulnerability of large databases containing personal data has become an issue with several major leaks reported during the year. Such leaks enable so called "spear phishing" attacks with very well targeted information. The increased popularity of social networking services carries similar risks.

F-Secure predicts the increase in malware volume will continue in 2008.