The growth of web-delivered malware is alarming and the trend suggests we are struggling to deal with it.

ZDNet UK reports that an average of 37,000 new malware samples are discovered and processed each day and that over half - 52% - of that malware will be reconfigured within 24 hours of its release in an effort to evade signature-based scanners. Web-delivered data-theft Trojans have increased 4955% since 2007 and 1424% just over the past year. Each year since 2006, the number of malware signatures has doubled, or more than doubled and the malware itself has become far more sophisticated and insidious in both its payload and its intent.

Adobe products, Twitter, Tumblr and Jaiku are said to be particularly vulnerable for being hijacked and being turned into malware vehicles.

In its report, the Microsoft Malware Protection Center says the United States is now the the biggest malware target. "The US is at the top of this list as it is by default the top target for most of the malicious code out there. China and Brazil are actually a totally different story. While China is a top target for online games password stealers and the black market associated with it, Brazil is a prime goal for another breed of password stealers: those targeting bank accounts. Given these locations, it should come as no surprise that the top prevalent threats are what they are."

Be very afraid. This is going to get worse.