Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

Experts warn of banking trojan

Internet users and people using online banking tools are being warned to watch out for an internet security threat that can lead them to being exposed to ID theft and online fraud.

Security researches say they have discovered what they are referring to as a sophisticated online banking trojan, which is capable of stealing bank account details and avoiding detection.

Once it has compromised one's online security and installed itself, the Bankpatch trojan is said to delete all traces of its installation making it difficult for it to be spotted, according to security firm Symantec.

Cyber crooks have programmed the malicious software to monitor victims' traffic and when a bank website is visited, the programme can take over and redirect data to websites set up by the crooks.

"Bankpatch will add code to multiple Windows system files and patch key routines so that when these routines are executed, execution is redirected to the injected code," explained the security firm's Eric Chien.

The malicious programme, which first emerged in 2007, has been reported in the US and some European countries.

Safeguard your account numbers and passwords against identity theft. Visit www.pctools.com to upgrade your protection