SAN DIEGO -- Akonix Systems, the provider of the most deployed instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products in the world, today announced its IM Security Center researchers tracked 31 new malicious code attacks over IM networks during the month of March - three times more than the same month last year.

New IM worms identified include IMspam, QQPass and TrigXF. Maniccum and Hotmatom were the most common, with one variant each. Attacks on P2P networks such as Kazaa and eDonkey increased 32 percent this month over last, with 25 attacks.

During March, Akonix security analysts issued three new policy updates to protect customers against new malware, using the industry's only dynamic IM malware, spim and protocol update system. This automatically pushes updates to customers to block spyware, worms and viruses. Akonix customers were secure on day zero from each new threat with the in-depth protection and containment features of Akonix's 360° Security for Real-Time Communications(tm).

"So far this year, IM networks are being attacked much more frequently when compared with the same period in 2006," said Don Montgomery, VP of marketing at Akonix. "The upsurge of threats is indicative of the greater adoption of IM within corporate networks, which increases its appeal as a vector for viruses and worms."

Akonix Systems Inc.