Malicious attachments peak mid-week

2012-06-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

FireEye reports a weekly pattern in the number of malicious email attachments in circulation.

The number of malicious email attachments in circulation shows a weekly pattern, according to data from security firm FireEye, with peaks on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and relatively little activity during weekends. The statistics – which only include attachments that aren’t blocked by spam filters and anti-virus scanners and thus focus on targeted attacks – also show a decrease in activity during holidays.

Whether this trend is a consequence of those engaged in such activity following normal working hours, or a deliberate choice by attackers to increase the likelihood of the attachments being opened, is not clear. In comparison, many attacks targeting the masses take place during the weekends, as attackers seem to believe that with fewer IT and security staff working, the attacks will take longer to be detected.

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