With less malware in email, IT ignores mobile security

You think you have problems? Try writing malware for a living.

Many networks have dedicated spam firewalls with anti-virus functions planted on the edge… backed up by spam and virus filtering at the mail server… which is backed up by spam and virus filters at the desktop.

As if that’s not bad enough, lots of network managers filter-out suspicious attachments and HTML, without even bothering to check them.

And because all that equipment and software is multi-sourced, it’s almost impossible to build a virus that will ultimately do any damage.

Martin Lynch reports that virus-infected messages recently plunged 50%, to less than one half of one percent of the mail stream. Sophos attributes the drop to virus spammers, who are doing a better job of targeting victims.

This anti-virus success may explain the the laid-back attitude of UK IT bosses. Fewer than 10% view uncontrolled email access via mobile devices as potentially dangerous.

Somebody doesn’t read much.