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| The spyware stole users' internet banking
passwords. |
Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global
network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have welcomed
the news that a suspected spyware developer has been arrested in
Japan.
31-year-old Atsushi Takewaka is suspected of accessing victims'
computers to steal internet banking passwords, which he used to
illegally withdraw money from online accounts. Investigators claim
that Takewaka, in conspiracy with 41-year-old Kiichi Hirayama, used
spyware to steal the banking password of a jewelry retailer in
Kawasaki, and stole 216,000 yen from the account.
Takekawa was quoted by authorities as saying that Hirayama asked
him to develop the spyware program.
Police have accused the two men of using similar tactics to
illegally
withdraw about 11 million yen from nine accounts at Mizuho
Bank, eBank Corp and Japan Net Bank, in July 2005.
According to police, Takekawa is alleged to have told them, "I
created the spyware in about three months using a range of
software. I wanted money to live on."
Hirayama is said by police to have also admitted attempting to
steal money out of bank accounts by sending CD ROMs to firms that,
when run on a PC, would install the spyware.
"Spyware which steals internet banking customers is on the
increase, so it's essential that everyone ensures they have proper
protection in place," said Graham Cluley, senior
technology consultant for Sophos. "It's encouraging to see computer
crime fighters around the world having more success in catching the
perpetrators, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Everyone
needs up-to-date anti-virus protection, firewalls and security
patches, and ensure they are acting securely when online."
Law enforcement agencies in Japan are continuing to investigate
the case.
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.