Trend Micro launches focused Middle East virus research program at GITEX 2005

The project, which will run into 2006, will analyze data and malware-infected emails supplied by a number of clients in the region with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of how viruses are being developed locally.

Global interest in locally-generated malware was intensified recently following the discovery of the Cager.a Trojan program, which monitors activity on infected computers and displays a quote from the Koran when it detects access to adult sites online.

Security experts strongly suspect that, given the location of the first infection sites and the language used within the program, the virus may have originated from either within the Arab world or from Iran.

This so-called "cultural virus" follows hard on the heels of a number of focused virus attacks on specific enterprises in the Middle East, with programmed malicious software looking to copy financial and personal data.

"Judging by the rising number of virus infections in the area, it's possible that we may see a growing number of locally created viruses hitting the Middle East," said Justin Doo, managing director, Trend Micro Middle East and Africa.

"With the support of a number of local companies, we're aiming to analyse how this phenomenon may be developing, and hopefully gain a clearer idea about the nature of the local virus industry," he added.

Information collected will be analysed at TrendLabs, Trend Micro's global network of antivirus laboratories.