Virus targeting Windows infects 74000 PCs

CALIFORNIA, USA: Microsoft Windows' dominance in the OS market is now not only challenged by its competitors but by the world of 'bad guys' – hackers.

A report published by security analytic applications provider NetWitness said that it discovered over 75 gigabyte of data stolen from more than 74,000 compromised PCs over the past year and a half. The attack was carried out by an unknown miscreant using a large botnet to control and monitor these PCs.

According to the report, the program used to hack these PCs, ZeuS Trojan, is purpose-built to infect the Microsoft Windows operating system. The top five Windows versions infected by the ZeuS Trojan are XP Professional SP2, XP Professional SP3, XP Home Edijon SP 3, XP Home Edijon SP 2, Vista Home Edijon SP 2, Vista Home Edijon SP 1 and Vista Home Edijon SP 0.

The online banking and social networking spaces were the worse victims of the malignant attack. The stolen data included 68,000 corporate login credentials, access to e-mail systems, online banking sites, Facebook, Yahoo, Hotmail, 2,000 SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate files and data on individuals, says NetWitness.

E-commerce business PayPal and the global banking giant HSBC - UK were among those who had their websites attacked.

According to the report, Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United States are the top five sources for compromised machines. However, in total, the geographic scope of this botnet is 196 unique countries, it said.

NetWitness found out the theft while doing its routine analytic tasks related to an evaluation of an enterprise network. The company provides a series of security analytic applications based on a patented network forensic engine.

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