Data stolen from computers via virus

Data stolen from computers via virus

An investigation has been launched into data recovered from a computer 


in the US that was found to contain information from hacked computers 


based in the UK.


The Metropolitan Police's Computer Crime Unit is investigating the data, 


which was stolen from more than 2,300 computers by the use of a computer 


virus.


Police estimate around 83,000 files in the UK have been targeted by the 


hackers but it is thought thousands of computer users around the world 


may have had data stolen.


E-mail addresses, passwords, credit card numbers and other confidential 


information has been recovered by police during the course of the 


investigation.


The details were harvested from the computers by a type of malicious 


code known as a "Backdoor".


It is not yet known how many computers have been infected but officers 


are taking steps to notify the UK victims of the online attack.


Banks and other online services, including internet service providers, 


are also being alerted.


A police spokesman said: "Identity theft performed by computer viruses 


is on the increase. As in this case, it often goes on without the 


knowledge of the computer's owner."


He said victims who are e-mailed by the Met's Computer Crime Unit should 


contact the detectives named on the contact number provided.


Police are advising computer users to regularly update their anti-virus 


programme virus signatures and scan their computers to help avoid 


becoming a victim. People who shop online are urged to check bank 


statements regularly to ensure no illegal transactions have taken place.

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