Windows worms tax ISPs
Computer worms will cost European ISPs an estimated 123m this year, according to a study by Sandvine. The Net traffic management firm says its study shows attacks on European service providers are now a daily occurrence.
Although worms are usually associated with attacks on corporate networks, the malicious traffic also ties up service provider networks, degrading the broadband experience for home Internet users. Meanwhile, outbreaks of computer worms generate a huge upsurge in support calls to ISPs. On any given day, between five and 12 per cent of all Internet traffic moving across European ISP networks is malicious, according to Sandvine.
Counting the costs
Working from metrics derived from its European customers and other industry research, Sandvine reckons that worm attacks will cost the European service provider sector more than 123m in 2004 and 159m in 2005. The problem will cause UK ISPs 22.4m this year. French ISPs will haemorrhage 17.9m and German ISPs 22.7m for the same reason, according to Sandvine.
