Graham Cluley Information Quotations

If we joined, we couldn't share any identifying information about MARA members, so if we found someone in the group publishing virus source code, or co-authoring articles with known virus writers, we couldn't divulge that information.

Trojans are different from viruses because they can lurk in PCs without anyone noticing and can spy on the computer user's activities then send this information back anywhere in the world.

Two years ago, the US accounted for over half of all spam sent to the world - now it is less than a quarter, evidence which confirms that more Americans are waking up to the need to protect their home computers from malicious hackers. More and more viruses, worms and Trojan horses are being designed to take over innocent users' computers with the intention of stealing information and sending out junk email campaigns.

Criminals are becoming increasingly canny at finding ways of exploiting vulnerable users and pilfering funds. Some employees are practically handing their private information over on a plate.

Compare what those viruses did to what happens today: If a worm steals your bank information or hacks into your accounts, that is it. You have been robbed.

A vulnerability like this opens the door for hackers to spy on your sensitive information. Users running the affected software should upgrade as soon as possible.

The German police should be applauded for arresting these men before the alleged criminal plot was put into action. The potential rewards for internet crime are high, and we are seeing organized international gangs becoming more sophisticated in the ways in which they attempt to steal information from online banking users. Computer crime authorities around the world need to work closely with each other to break apart these criminal gangs and bring them to justice.