The seventh biannual Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, released on Microsoft newsgroups today, is one of the most comprehensive on the market, as it uses Microsoft’s extensive footprint on consumer and corporate desktops and the web.

The bi-annual report posted on most security related Microsoft newsgroups, is now in its seventh version and the report findings span from January to June of this year. The findings of the report signal that there’s still a lack of global market awareness around the security and threat landscapes.

Malware makers–the criminals responsible for viruses and worms –have become increasingly organized and sophisticated, according to a Microsoft security report that was released today. Gamers, the gullible, USB drive users, and people who don’t patch their PCs (especially newsgroup subscribers) are their biggest targets. Worm attacks have doubled while other threats, such as some Trojans and Adware, have decreased.

Even though fewer users were infected from January to June, cyber criminals have gotten better at including extra malware in rogue applications. As an example, more and more malicious programs are being written to steal the login credentials of popular online games.

In addition to stealing the user’s personal information, worms can spread on removable USB sticks and attack all the computers on a work or home network. Worms can propogate by themselves, spreading across the Internet by exploiting software vulnerabilities, as opposed to Trojan dowloads and other exploits that require the user to take a specific action such as clicking on a dialogue, visiting an infected site, or retrieving messages on USENET newsgroups.

Microsoft’s global head of security, Vinny Gulluto, was reported stating that there are a range of ways gamers and newsgroup subscribers can protect their computers. One specific way is to make sure that you’re not only using the most up-to date version of your newsreader, but if applicable, to turn on security features such as anti-virus addons that can monitor downloaded content before it manifests on your computer. Microsoft has long been criticized for the lackluster security of Windows and other products, but improvements in its software development process have helped noticeably in recent years.

Microsoft’s recommendations include downloading and installing regular security updates, and running security software. The company also says corporate IT departments such develop policies for file sharing and removable drives that can make malware spread more easily. The report shows that Turkey, Spain, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Mexico had the highest rates of infection. The United States ranked in the middle.