Online banking virus hits SA

Johannesburg - Computer security company Symantec said infections of a virus known as Clampi have been detected in South Africa. The virus targets internet banking users and captures usernames and passwords for banking websites.

According to Symantec, the virus was originally detected early in 2008, but infections have increased substantially since July 2009. British news site Times Online reported on Monday that the virus was spreading rapidly throughout the USA and Britain.

Said Times Online: "Once on the computer, the virus sits unnoticed until the user logs on to bank, credit card or other financial websites. It then captures log-in and password information and sends it to a server run by the attackers. They can then tell the compromised computer to send money to accounts that they control, or they can buy goods with the stolen credit card details."

While the virus has been detected in South Africa, Symantec said it is not yet as prominent here as it is in America or Britain.

According to Orla Cox, security operations manager at Symantec in Dublin, "Clampi isn't regionally specific, therefore there is no reason why users in South Africa wouldn't be affected.

"However, our own infection numbers show low levels of infection in South Africa - less than 1% of global infections," she added.

The Symantec virus profile for Clampi said the virus only effects users of Windows computers.

It is recommended that users ensure their computers are up to date and have antivirus software loaded with the latest virus profiles in order to prevent infections from Clampi.

- Fin24.com