All news is bad news to a security vendor

In July, the percentage of e-mail carrying malicious attachments has plummeted to 0.45 percent -- one in 222 -- from an average of 1.1% -- one in 91 -- over the first six months of the year, according to a report issued this morning by security vendor Sophos.
 
Fabulous news, right?
 
Oh, you silly readers. There is no such thing as good news in the world of network security, only ominous clouds masquerading as silver linings.
 
"At a glance, the drop in the proportion of virus-infected e-mail may be misread as a sign that e-mail is now a safer medium, but computer users and businesses shouldn't be fooled," says a senior security consultant at Sophos in a press release.
 
So no fair merely glancing. Don't misread the data. And by all means don't be fooled.
 
"The reality is that the number of new threats is increasing by thousands each month."
 
That would be 3,715 new threats in July, Sophos says, bringing the total being kept at bay by the company to a gargantuan 184,007.
 
"While there may be less viruses and worms in the actual e-mail, hackers are spamming out messages that link to malicious Web sites where Trojan horses lie and wait for innocent victims," the consultant warns.
 
Then comes what we call the money quote in my business:
 
"If businesses don't defend themselves they put their data, money and productivity levels at risk."
 
The Sophos report also includes a Top 10 list of July's most prevalent malware, led by W32/Netsky-P with 19.3 percent, as well as another accounting of the 10 most common hoaxes and chain letters, which shows "Olympic torch" taking the gold.
 
Go check them out. Just promise not to misread or be fooled.

• Security
• e-mail
• Sophos