Security threats over instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer networks grew by over 2,000 percent last year, according to a report released last week by IM security specialist FaceTime.

The IMPact Report: Summary Analysis of IM & P2P Threats in 2005 suggests that most security problems spread via single networks in 2004, but attacks are now much more likely to use two or more public networks. FaceTime also reports growth in IM-borne rootkits and internet relay chat (IRC)-controlled botnets.

FaceTime’s security research manager, Chris Boyd, said that IT managers should be aware that sophisticated techniques previously reserved for “web page hijacks” are now being incorporated into IM attacks. “Rootkits are as bad as it gets and will continue rising,” he warned.