A ten-fold increase in the number of malicious online programs is expected over the next year, according to a security specialist's report.

Figures released by Kaspersky Labs indicates that 2008 will see an increase of over 20 million malware codes added to the internet on last year, writes IT Pro.

According to the technology news provider, the total number of malicious programs, including Trojans, worms and viruses, was two million in 2007.

Online security experts are putting this down to an increase in both the quality and the quantity of malware.

Kaspersky senior technology consultant David Emms told reporters: "New and more complex samples, such as the notorious Zhelatin (the storm worm), are emerging that demonstrate a wide range of hostile behaviour and distribution methods."

The news follows advice published this week suggesting that companies should focus on securing data rather than infrastructure in order to improve their online security.

Speaking to IT Week, chief executive of US-based IT security provider Websense Gene Hodges said that locking down devices, networks and infrastructure has failed to make corporate assets safe.


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