In a new report McAfee said not only has there been a sudden rise of the use of stealth technologies to conceal malware and so-called potentially unwanted programs, or PUPs, but that rootkits were becoming more complex.
McAfee said online collaborate research that uses websites containing hundreds of lines of rootkit code, which can be compiled, adapted or improved, may be to blame. With rootkit code and stealth creation kits available online, hackers can more easily hide processes, files and registry keys without detailed knowledge of target operating systems, McAfee said.
Open-source environments and blogs also are largely to blame for the escalating rootkit problem, according to the company.
Clearly we are seeing that stealth technologies, and rootkits specifically, are increasing at an alarming rate, said Stuart McClure, VP of global threats at McAfee, in a statement. This trend in malware evolution is creating hardier and ever more virulent strains of malware that will continue to threaten businesses and consumers alike.
