BUCHAREST, ROMANIA--(Marketwire - June 4, 2008) - BitDefender®, an award-winning provider of antivirus software and data security solutions, released today a list of the top three e-threats menacing computers in the US in May.

The top menace of the month is Trojan.Clicker.CM, a pop-up-ad-serving trojan distributed via infected websites. In order to successfully display the pop-ups containing advertisements, the trojan has the ability to bypass the Norton Internet Security Pop-up Blocker.

In second place is Trojan.Downloader.WMA.Wimad.N. Despite the complicated-sounding name, this trojan serves a very simple function: to load another piece of malware. It does so by pretending to be a helper application that downloads a "codec" playing a "special type" of WMA file. Once the user is tricked, it downloads and runs Adware.PlayMp3z.A, an application meant to take personal information from the computer and use it for marketing or suspicious practices. When executed, the adware displays a pop-up with an EULA, in an attempt to convince users of its legitimacy.

In third place -- proving once again that security is big business -- is a fake (or rogue) antivirus installer, which purports to install "XP antivirus." Once installed, XP antivirus claims to have found viruses on the victim's computer and requests money "for activation" to remove them.

"Adware is the word of the month and that is because it makes money without posing so much legal risk," explained Sorin Dudea, Head of BitDefender AV Research. "We may see more of these and similar threats in the months to come."

BitDefender's Top Three E-Threats for May include:

   1. Trojan.Clicker.CM                                7.54%
   2. Trojan.Downloader.WMA.Wimad.N                    7.08%
   3. Trojan.FakeAlert.PP                              6.12%

About BitDefender®

BitDefender is the creator of one of the industry's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software. Since our inception in 2001, BitDefender has continued to raise the bar and set new standards in proactive threat prevention. Every day, BitDefender protects tens of millions of home and corporate users across the globe -- giving them the peace of mind of knowing that their digital experiences will be secure. BitDefender solutions are distributed by a global network of value-added distribution and reseller partners in more than 100 countries worldwide. More information is available on our security solutions' site.

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