Linux is no longer as safe at it once was, according to the recent findings of WatchGuard Technologies’ quarterly Internet Security Report. The report explores the latest computer and network security threats affecting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as distributed enterprises.
Most notably, despite an overall drop in general malware detection for the quarter, the report revealed that Linux malware made up more than 36 percent of the top threats identified in Q1 2017. This attack pattern demonstrates the urgent need for heightened security measures to protect Linux servers and Linux-dependent IoT devices.
"This new Firebox Feed data allows us to feel the pulse of the latest network attacks and malware trends in order to identify patterns that influence the constantly evolving threat landscape," commented Corey Nachreiner, Chief Technology Officer at WatchGuard Technologies. "The Q1 report findings continue to reinforce the importance and effectiveness of basic security policies, layered defenses and advanced malware prevention. We urge readers to examine the report's key takeaways and best practices, and bring them to the forefront of information security efforts within their organizations."
WatchGuard's Internet Security Report is designed to offer educational insights, research and security recommendations to help readers better protect themselves and their organizations against modern threat actors. Key findings from the Q1 2017 report include:
WatchGuard's Internet Security Report is based on anonymized Firebox Feed data from more than 26,500 active WatchGuard UTM appliances worldwide, representing a small portion of our overall install base. These appliances blocked more than 7 million malware variants in Q1, representing an average of 266 samples blocked by each individual device. WatchGuard appliances also blocked more than 2.5 million network attacks in Q1, which equates to 156 attacks blocked per device.
The complete report includes a breakdown of the quarter's top malware and attack trends, an analysis of the CIA Vault 7 leaks and key defensive learnings for readers. The report also features a new research project from the WatchGuard Threat Lab, which focuses on a new vulnerability in a popular IoT camera.
For more information, download the full report here: www.watchguard.com/security-report