Researchers at McAfee's Avert Labs predict that by the end of 2007, they'll track more than 360,000 pieces of unique malware, a staggering 60 % increase from last year. Avert Labs estimate that the total number of malware tracked will reach 550,000 by 2008.

Craig Schmugar, threat research manager, McAfee Avert Labs said, "Criminals are never at a loss for new materials. Professional malcode authors are constantly evolving their tactics at the expense of unsuspecting victims, driven by the goal of detection evasion and greater profitability. Authors, like those behind Storm Worm, have automation systems designed to pump out new variants every hour, minute, or even second. With malware authors releasing new variants at a blazing pace, we expect that 2008 will be another record year of malware."