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New Linux malware hit record highs at the end of 2022, showing a growth of 117% over previously reports levels.

Malware attacks targeting Linux are not new. What is changing, though, is the focus cybercriminals now place on Linux in business and industry. Linux malware has become increasingly prevalent in recent years as more devices and servers run on Linux operating systems.

The new malware numbers, based on an analysis by researchers at Atlas VPN, show that the Linux threat landscape is evolving, warned the report’s writers. It shows attackers increasingly see Linux as another worthwhile target. “Linux users need to be aware of the growing risks, as prioritizing system security is more important than ever,” they concluded.

According to data analysis the Atlas VPN team released on January 18th, new Linux malware threats hit record numbers in 2022, as reported on by technewsworld.com.

Compared to 2021, when 121.6 million samples were detected, new malware numbers overall dropped by 39% to 73.7 million in 2022. Most new Linux malware samples (854,690) were seen in the first quarter of 2022. But in the second quarter, new malware samples dropped by almost 3% to 833,065. Those Linux detection numbers plummeted again in the third quarter of last year by a staggering 91% to 75,841. But they picked up again in the fourth quarter of 2022, growing by 117% to 164,697.

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