British Banks Increasingly Targeted by Attacker

Principal UK banks are facing phishing attacks by online hackers who are utilizing storm botnets for launching the attack. These attacks are paving way for fresh form of threats posed by storm botnet, as per the Anti-Fraud Command Center (AFCC) of RSA, a security company.

RSA informed that online criminals have founded a new way to attack banks. With the help of botnet, the online criminals manage to retain anonymity of infected computer, conducting phishing attacks by rotating its IP address.

RSA researchers think that the financial institutions of the UK occupied the second position among the most targeted banks in the world in January 2008, measuring 15% of worldwide banking brands under phishing attack, after the US banks at 61%.

Online criminals utilized Storm botnet for speedy flux-network to regularly revolving the IP addresses of the infected computers, which are used for attacking by sending the phishing matter, making it really hard to track them down. Now the Storm botnet might be used as infrastructure for creating fast-flux phishing strikes, as per the researchers at RSA.

There are many factors worsening the situation. Attackers are taking benefit of features provided by banks to smoothen the customer online experience and the increased number of online users. They are uniting their advanced resources with the facilities and conducting phishing attacks.

As major financial institutions are taking measures to strengthen their defense lines, attackers have decided to choose small financial institutions for phishing in the UK. Moreover, the attackers are crossing the borders and making global presence.

RSA Security's fraud analysts have also traced notifications in online fraudster society, signifying that regional criminal groups, which are accustomed with the way of working of local banks in diverse nations, are demanding phishing attacks on the UK. There is hike in demand for phished credentials of UK banks.

Bank Safe Online, an initiative taken by the UK banking industry to promote online banking safety while working online, suggests customers to act cautiously and react quickly to security concerns. Few steps which customers can take at their end includes always using updated antivirus software, frequently scanning computer for viruses, and employing a personal firewall.

Related article: British Telecommunications Introduces New anti-spam System

» SPAMfighter News - 2/21/2008