Security news and products; over half of Chinese malware aims to steal passwords.Experts at SophosLabs, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have revealed that over half of all malware originating in China in October was designed to steal usernames and passwords. This malicious code is designed to give cyber (1) From "cybernetics," it is a prefix attached to everyday words to add a computer, electronic or online connotation. The term is similar to "virtual," but the latter is used more frequently. See virtual. criminals easy access to personal and sensitive data for financial gain and identity theft. By analysing the malware, Sophos has identified that 45.2% aimed to steal online game login Signing in and gaining access to a network server, Web server or other computer system. The process (the noun) is a "login" or "logon," while the act of doing it (the verb) is to "log in" or to "log on. information, with a further 7.5% designed to provide the hackers with username The name you use to identify yourself when logging into a computer system or online service. Both a username (user ID) and a password are required. In an Internet e-mail address, the username is the left part before the @ sign. For example, KARENB is the username in karenb@mycompany. and password details for the popular Chinese QQ instant messaging client Chat Client is the name used for alternative engines to messengers such as Yahoo!, MSN, and AOL. Several offer limited services with only IM/PM ability while some offer combined messsenger services with Yahoo!, AOL, or MSN, among others, combined into one. . "Given the ever growing popularity of online gaming See gaming. in China, this is a worrying trend--once hackers have stolen login details, they can effectively impersonate im·per·son·ate tr.v. im·per·son·at·ed, im·per·son·at·ing, im·per·son·ates 1. To assume the character or appearance of, especially fraudulently: impersonate a police officer. 2. the victim in the online world," explained, senior security consultant for Sophos. "Millions of people play these games every day, but once inside the game, it's difficult to check their identity and these cyber criminals can wreak wreak tr.v. wreaked, wreak·ing, wreaks 1. To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person. 2. To express or gratify (anger, malevolence, or resentment); vent. 3. havoc, for example buying and selling items in online stores and running up huge debts without the victim even realising." Furthermore, with a significant proportion of the remaining malware designed to give hackers access to instant messaging clients, Sophos is warning computer users of the risks of using the same password across multiple sites and of the importance of using secure passwords. "While hacking into an instant messaging client may not seem like the end of the world, the danger is that the cyber criminals will have inadvertently gained access to bank accounts, or cracked the passwords to secure password protected information, from which they can steal confidential and financial information," concluded Theriault. Sophos recommends that businesses secure their PCs with a consolidated solution to defend against spyware, viruses and spam, as well as ensuring that their software offers automatically updated protection. Computer users should also be wary of unsolicited emails, and display caution when clicking on or opening unknown links or attachments. www.sophos.com |
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