Greater internet security: SWITCH blocks malicious websites

You may download this illustration as well as other graphics from the .zip file below

SWITCH is stepping up the security measures for the Swiss internet: Swiss websites which spread malicious software and infect the computers of internet users with malware as they surf, will be removed from the web as of Thursday.

Swiss websites are among the most secure in the world, as is confirmed by a current study conducted by internet security company McAfee. Despite this, an increasing number of .ch and .li websites are spreading malicious software, so-called malware. According to SWITCH, the registry for Swiss internet addresses, this is a growing problem: “Each week we receive more than a hundred notifications of websites infecting other computers with malware”, says Dr. Serge Droz, Head of the Security Division at SWITCH.

Number of web vulnerabilities used for spreading malware

Active fight against malware

Cybercrime attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Frequently, just calling up a manipulated website is enough to infect a computer with viruses or Trojan horses. And this abuse goes unnoticed by the website operator and the visitor. This is why SWITCH’s Security Division is introducing a new procedure to combat malware on 25 November: SWITCH will check the notifications it receives about websites spreading malware. If it finds malicious websites, SWITCH will contact the holder and the operator (provider) and ask them to resolve the problem. If no action is taken within one working day, SWITCH will block the internet address. “We will only remove a website from the web in an emergency. The aim is for the malicious site to be cleaned up rapidly”, explains Serge Droz. This consistent approach will make a key contribution to maintaining the high security standard for Swiss internet addresses.

PC, Mac and iPhone at risk
Any computer with internet capability is susceptible to infection by malware. Mac users who consider viruses or Trojan horses to be solely a problem for PC users have been lulled into a false sense of security. Smartphones, such as the iPhone and Blackberry, are also targeted in attacks. Internet users can protect themselves by installing anti-virus software on their computer and by always keeping their programs and operating system up-to-date.

Globally linked against internet crime
At the end of the 80s, the internet first developed as an education and research network linking the universities – and was built up by SWITCH in Switzerland. Today, SWITCH still works for the Swiss universities as a non-profit organisation, ensuring that they are networked and can exchange knowledge efficiently. SWITCH also operates the registry for .ch and .li domain names on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM). Internet security is accorded topmost priority in both areas, which is why the foundation has had its own Security Division, SWITCH-CERT, since 1996. This seven-strong team, which engages in broad-based networking with security experts worldwide, constantly exchanges information on the latest developments in cybercrime. SWITCH also works together with the Swiss Confederation’s Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) to curb internet crime in Switzerland.

• Set of charts, diagrams and illustrations for web and print
• Study Mapping the Mal Web by McAfee

• SWITCH-CERT Website
• Frequently Asked Questions about Malware