Chinese Malware Stealing Passwords

The malware is designed (and written in simplified form of Chinese) to aid cyber-criminals to pilfer personal and secret information for frauds and identity thefts. By using malicious codes, a hacker can easily gain access to someone's financial and personal information. Sophos found that about 45.2% of malware was designed to thieve the login information of online games from innocent players and 7.5% was designed to provide passwords and usernames to hackers for the Chinese IM (Instant Messaging) client QQ.

Carole Theriault, senior security advisor, Sophos, said that users should take it as a warning. They should change their passwords regularly and use separate passwords for separate Websites.

She further added that as the popularity of the online gaming is growing in China, the issue of hacking becomes more serious. Everyday, innumerable number of people plays online games and once in the game, it is very difficult to keep a check on their identity. Criminals can take full advantage of this opportunity and wreak havoc. They can sell and buy goods from online stores and pile up a huge debt on the victim's head without his knowledge.

Also, with a considerable amount of remaining malware making the IM clients accessible to hackers, the security firm is cautioning the users about the risks involved in using same password repeatedly.

While intruding into an IM client's system may not appear as ultimate, the risk is that hackers have gained access to the bank account details and have cracked the passwords to thieve the secret information related to finance, concluded Theriault.

Related article: Chinese Hackers Threatening Korean Game Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 11/25/2006