Spyware and Trojan threats are rising dramatically, now accounting for the majority of the online attacks, a new report reveals.

Webroot's latest report shows that during the first quarter of 2006 the number of spyware infections jumped to 15 per cent compared to the same period in 2005.

According to Webroot's figures, the total number of Trojan horses also increased over the previous quarter.

"These alarming figures illustrate that spyware is a problem that internet users are going to be battling for years to come. Spyware has proven itself as more than a simple 'flash in the pan' security threat. This is a real threat that is financially motivated and will not stop spreading,” said C. David Moll, chief executive officer of Webroot Software.

Others figures from anti-virus company Sophos revealed that among the 1,538 new threats discovered in May, 85.1 per cent of them were Trojan horses, while just 12.3 per cent were worms or viruses.

In February, McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro, ICSA Labs and Thomson Cyber Security Labs teamed up to create an identification and testing website for anti-spyware software.

Also earlier this year, internet experts at Harvard Law School and Oxford University and technology companies such as Google and Sun Microsystems, launched the Stop Badware Coalition to fight spyware and malware.

Security experts urge internet users to protect their computers with efficient anti-spyware software and regularly update their anti-virus solution.

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