Distribution of Malware by Type

[hjlbx]

The following link reports Emsisoft malware removal statistics by type (2015):

Antivirus, Anti-Malware, Anti-PUP? What is Emsisoft really?

Such data is important when crafting your security config. What it shows is that, at the time the data was collected and reported, the probability of a Trojan, Bot, Backdoor and Rootkit infection is 14 %, an exploit is only 1 % and a virus 0.2 %. On the other hand there is a 79 % chance of encountering a potentially unwanted application\program (PUA\PUP).

What the above statistics do not indicate is what proportion of the PUAs\PUPs are just mere annoyances versus the more sinister ones - those that will attempt to download and install a Trojan, Bot, Backdoor, Rootkit, VIrus, etc.

The incidence of ransomware is not specified, but more recent data suggests approximately 2 %.

It is important to understand the following:

If you do not download and install applications, download documents - videos - music - games - etc - or - only install applications and other files from trusted publishers from their direct download links, use built-in system\browser protections, use safe computing habits, then the probability that your system will be infected is virtually 0 % !

For a significant portion of adult users, a security soft such as Emsisoft Anti-Malware or Emsisoft Internet Security is sufficient.

 

[mal1]

If you do not download and install applications - or - only install applications from trusted publishers from their direct download links, use built-in system\browser protections, use safe computing habits, then the probability that your system will be infected is virtually 0 % !

I'm afraid this rule doesn't necessarily apply to the extremely sinister malwares; backdoors and high-risk trojans (RATs keyloggers etc).

 

[hjlbx]

I'm afraid this rule doesn't necessarily apply to the extremely sinister malwares; backdoors and high-risk trojans (RATs keyloggers etc).

If you download - for example - Adobe Flash from verified Adobe website and verify the installer - then what is the probability that the installer will actually be or have a bound malware ?

Essentially 0 %.

The few extra minutes of verification increase your system security way above-and-beyond what any security soft can provide.

Safe computing habits cover a vast area - and require discipline.

As long as you are in control, you are safe.

The things over which the user has NO control are the real problem - webpages, webpage scripts, compromised CDN servers, poor server security, insecure 2nd and 3rd party data security, vulnerable networks, etc, etc.

The best military-grade security config cannot protect anyone against most - like 99.9 % - of these sorts of vulnerabilities...

More importantly, if you never download and install anything - how can your system get infected ?

Conservative, safe, disciplined computing habits ensure safety more than anything else.

People do not adhere to safe practices because they are perceived as inconvenient and\or burdensome.

That's a crock of dung.