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Using Malicious Programs To Rob Banks
Chris Richardson
Contributing Writer
2005-03-18
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
An attempted bank robbery in Britain has raised a number of questions concerning the possibility of using keystroke-capturing software, like a Trojan virus, to help carry out such a scheme.
 | | Using The Computer To Rob Banks? |  |
London Police, finishing an investigation that began in October, foiled what is being referred to as "Britain's largest attempted bank robbery." The investigation revealed computer experts were attempting to electronically transfer ₤220 million (around $420 million) from the Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui to 10 different bank accounts located around the globe.
According to the BBC,
[The thieves] managed to infiltrate the system with keylogging software that would have enabled them to track every button pressed on computer keyboards.
From that they could learn account numbers, passwords and other sensitive information.
The attempt on Sumitomo Mitsui marks one of the first recorded attempts at using malicious software in order to defraud such a large financial institution.
The question on many people's minds is what kind of program did these individuals use in order to capture keystrokes. An article by Sophos looks at the possibility of using a Trojan virus to accomplish these goals.
The report does not confirm whether or not a Trojan-style program was used to carry out the robbery. But, because of the nature of these viruses, they certainly could accomplish the same goal.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, offered these thoughts concerning such a possibility: "Over the last year, we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of new viruses, worms and Trojan horses designed to steal the keystrokes of innocent computer users. Sophos's labs produce protection against approximately 15 new pieces of malware, which include this sinister payload every day, compared to 5 a day a year ago. The information stolen by this kind of attack can be equivalent to someone watching over your shoulder as you type your password into the computer. Hacking gangs are actively hunting for vulnerable computers in order to steal information and empty bank accounts."
The British banking industry recently launched a website informing others about how banks can secure their vulnerable computers and the data they contain.
Email Scam Uses The Late Sir Denis Thatcher
Proving once again that spammers have little to no conscience, a scam email has been circulating using the death of former British Prime-Minister Margaret Thatcher's late husband, Sir Denis Thatcher, for an identity theft scheme.
Recipients of the fake mailing are told they may be a beneficiary in Sir Denis' last will and testament. According to Sophos,
The email, which claims to come from the attorneys of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's late husband, claims that the recipient will receive £950,000 in compensation for work they have done helping the less privileged. The email claims that Sir Denis Thatcher collected the money during his long and successful career in business.
In order to obtain the inheritance, recipients are asked to provide personal information such as documents of identification, address, telephone and fax numbers, in accordance with the British government's inheritance law.
This latest scam-mailing attempt further illustrates that the majority of scam mailers are despicable individuals who will not shy away from using any disaster, personal or otherwise, to dupe citizens of out identity information, money, or anything they don't want to work for.
Graham Cluley concurs by saying:
"Scammers are constantly trying to dupe computer users into divulging sensitive information with the promise of big money. Using the late Sir Denis Thatcher's name is a sick trick designed to entice the unwary into falling for the scam."
As always, if you receive this or any email asking for personal information and you are unsure of its origin… DELETE IT.
About the Author:
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest search news.
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