Hackers Grab Bank Details with Fake Advert

The Scotsman

This is a bad one. Be warned.

Hackers have found a new method of stealing bank details from home computers.

A virus uncovered last week was hidden inside so-called “pop-up” adverts that appear on screen without warning, experts warned today.

Clicking on the “close” button to get rid of the advert triggered the virus to attempt to secretly install itself on the computer.

The bug was programmed to wait until the user began logging on to their internet bank account where it tried to steal personal details, such as passwords, before the information reached the bank.

The latest virus, with the file name img1big.gif, differs from other attacks on internet bank customers which have seen a big rise recently.

Note that the "pop up" here refers to the new kind of pop up that seems to hover on the screen. As opposed to the pop ups that open a new window.

Internet security firm Symantec, which has monitored the virus, has given it the name pwsteal.refest.

Richard Archdeacon, the company’s director of technical services, said: “Most viruses of this kind going around try to capture information such as passwords by how they are typed in.

“This one was slightly different because it came through a pop-up advert.

“The virus will then be put on your PC and it will try to get your information at the stage where the details are being sent to the bank.
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