Experts at Sophos are advising computer users to ensure their anti-virus products can also protect against spyware after the reported theft of $84,000 (9.4 million yen) from nine Japanese bank accounts.
According to reports, the money has been illegally withdrawn from nine accounts at three different banks, because of a spyware infection.
Terunobu Maeda, chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association and president and CEO of Mizuho Financial Group, said that the banks concerned were Mizuho Bank, eBank Corp and Japan Net Bank. According to Maeda the banks will assist the computer crime authorities in their investigations, but it will be up to each individual bank as to whether and how victims will be compensated.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos said,
"With so much spyware being written today which targets Internet bank account customers it's essential that everyone ensures they have proper protection in place. Every day we see more attempts to spy on innocent users by organised criminal gangs focused on stealing money. Banks are especially anxious that users do not lose faith in using the Internet to access their accounts because it is a cheaper and more flexible way for them to do business with their customers."
It is unclear from the reports precisely which spyware application assisted the theft from the bank accounts, or how it operated, but many spyware Trojans and worms can monitor users as they enter online bank accounts and steal passwords and login information.