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Google's Malware Struggles Drive Hackers to Bing, Yahoo, and Twitter

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent report by web security firm Barracuda Networks Inc. reveals that hackers are increasingly targeting Google's competitors, including Microsoft's Bing, Yahoo, and Twitter, as the company's own security initiatives have led to a decline in malicious software affecting its users. As of December 31, Google accounted for 38% of the attacks, down from 69% in June, with 226 pieces of bad software detected daily in the December sample compared to 146 in June. Meanwhile, Bing, Yahoo, and Twitter have seen an increase in malware-laced search results, with 30%, 24%, and 8% of search results, respectively, being affected.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hackers targeted Google 38% of the time as of December 31, down from 69% in June.
  • Google accounted for 226 pieces of bad software daily in the December sample, up from 146 in June.
  • Bing's share of malware-laced search results rose to 24% in December from 12% in June.
  • Yahoo's share of malware-laced search results increased to 30% in December from 18% in June.
  • Twitter targeted 8% of its search results in December, up from 1% in June.
  • Google has improved its security, with Niels Provos, principal software engineer, stating that it takes an hour to remove bugs now, down from 10 hours in 2011.
  • Google's efforts to identify and scrub search poisoning attempts have led to a decline in malicious software affecting its users.

Statistics:

  • 38% of attacks targeted Google as of December 31.
  • 69% of attacks targeted Google in June.
  • 226 pieces of bad software detected daily in December sample.
  • 146 pieces of bad software detected daily in the June sample.
  • 24% of Bing search results were malware-laced in December.
  • 12% of Bing search results were malware-laced in June.
  • 30% of Yahoo search results were malware-laced in December.
  • 18% of Yahoo search results were malware-laced in June.
  • 8% of Twitter search results were malware-laced in December.
  • 1% of Twitter search results were malware-laced in June.
  • 10 hours took to remove bugs in 2011.
  • 1 hour now takes to remove bugs.

Sources:

  • Barracuda Networks Inc., report to be released later this month.
  • The Hamilton Spectator, December 2011.
  • Barracuda report, July 2011.

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