Security vendor Trend Micro today warned that ability of malware to propagate means that the number of infections is growing at its fastest rate for 15 years.

The evolution of "self-updating complex" bot networks means that traditional static pattern analysis techniques to combat viruses is becoming out-dated, warned Dave Rand, chief technology officer at Trend Micro. The anti-virus industry needs to look at more behavioural-based techniques to deal with the increasingly sophisticated threats, he added.

Trend Micro has embarked on a programme of "cross-correlating analysis" which will allow it to analyse customer behaviour and spot any unusual patterns that could mean bot net activity. From there it could develop better anti-virus tools, said Rand.

Rand also called for greater involvement from the ISP industry. "We need the help of the ISPs – they need to continue to take a larger role in protecting customers. Is it fair for them to allow information to be stolen from their computers?"

Meanwhile, web and email security vendor Sophos today updated its endpoint security offering to include network access control (NAC) technology.

Sophos Endpoint Security and Control 8.0 incorporates anti-virus, anti-spyware, host intrusion prevention, application control, firewall and NAC.

The technology gives network managers the ability to manage desktops, laptops, file servers and mobile devices which don't comply with corporate policy, for example by running unauthorised or unpatched software.

"When we ran a basic set of tests on corporate computers and two-thirds didn't meet the basic standards [of security]," explained Jon Shaw, Sophos' director endpoint security and control. "NAC is usually sold as a separate product at a premium price and setting it up is a difficult project even for larger businesses, but we're putting this technology into the mainstream."