In this report, <A HREF="http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=204791949">The Evolution of Self-Defense Technologies in Malware,</A> Kaspersky Lab senior malware analyst Alisa Shevchenko notes that as antivirus protection has developed, virus writers have been forced to find new methods of protecting their creations, among the approaches, polymorphism, metamorphism, and other self-defense techniques such as code encryption and obfuscation. Along with detailed analyses of these methods, Shevchenko presents a range of forecasts and trends straight from the Lab, including a list of self-defense technologies that threaten to evolve more actively than others.

In conclusion, Shevchenko theorizes that the standoff between cyber criminals and virus writers can be seen as an arms race--one in which the achievements of one side will be matched by increasing activity on the other side. And although there is no foreseeable end to the arms race between virus writers and antivirus companies in the near future, if all those involved make an effort, it will be possible to slow down the process.