Computer Security Expert Busted for Spreading Viruses

By ThirdAge News Staff

Posted October 22, 2010 9:06 PM

 

Computer security expert, Matthew Anderson, is looking at a prison term, for spreading computer viruses.

The 33-year-old from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has admitted being a key member of a sophisticated international gang of hackers.

He abused his knowledge to target hundreds of businesses with spam containing hidden viruses.

His criminal activities were discovered by Scotland Yard, which led an investigation into the viruses.

The gang, known online as the m00p group, were discovered infecting computers using viruses attached to unsolicited commercial emails.

The Scotsman reports that Anderson composed and distributed millions of spam messages with virus attachments before distributing them.

The viruses ran in the background on an infected computer and allowed Anderson to access private and commercial data stored on them. He was also able to activate webcams, effectively spying on users in their homes and sometimes taking screengrabs.

The hacker also made copies of private documents such as wills, medical reports, CVs, password lists and private photographs.

Anderson, will be sentenced on 22 November.

Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/news/computer-security-expert-busted-spreading-viruses_10-22-2010#ixzz13999MGtv

The government is preparing to issue the Information Security Guidelines to help control cyber crime that has been escalating in recent years.
Addressing a conference on cyber security, emerging cyber threats and challenges on Thursday, Rajan Raj Pant, controller of the Office of the Controller of Certification (OCC), said that the government was working to issue guidelines to help control the increasing trend of cyber crime such as e-mail threats, hacking, internet fraud and identity theft.
The guidelines are being planned by the government at a time when the use of the internet is increasing in sectors like banks and financial institutions (BFIs) and government offices that are sensitive in terms of data security.
“After the issuance of the guidelines, all the ISPs, BFIs and online operators have to abide by them,” said Pant.
“Government sites, sites belonging to banks and financial institutions and online operators must undergo a security audit by the government.” (Source:ekantipur)
source: ktm2day.com