01.27.11
Banks at Risk From Microsoft Windows
Summary: Carberp targets the bank accounts of Windows users
BANKS may gradually have to accept the fact that Microsoft is not their friend [1, 2]. Losses incurred by security issues alone are said to have cost the economy over one trillion dollars. This estimate goes a couple of years back. According to this article (brought up by Chips B. Malroy this morning), “Carberp, which targets computers running Microsoft’s Windows OS, was discovered last October by several security companies and noted for its ability to steal a range of data as well as disguise itself as legitimate Windows files and remove antivirus software. It has been billed as a rival to Zeus, another well-known piece of malware.”
“A piece of banking malware that researchers have been keeping an eye on is adding more sophisticated capabilities to stay hidden on victims’ PCs, according to the vendor Seculert,” says the rest.
“No problem,” writes Malroy, “it’s just malware designed to drain your banking account if you run Windows.” █
“Our products just aren’t engineered for security.”
–Brian Valentine, Microsoft executive
