MEBROOT-VIRUS becomes the latest threat to Online Banking Users

Security experts have warned worldwide internet users to be alert against a new stealthy virus that can steals login details for online bank accounts.

Mebroot, the malicious program is a type of virus known as a rootkit and it tries to overwrite part of a computer's hard drive called the Master Boot Record (MBR).

Once the virus is installed in a computer it can download other programs like keystroke loggers that allow the theft of critical information including online bank account passwords.

The experts say that it is via booby-trapped websites — which use vulnerabilities in Microsoft's browser to install the attack code — that many people fall victim to this virus.

Mebroot has been written by a Russian virus-writing group, which specializes in stealing bank login information.
Symantec, a well-Known antivirus software company said that controlling the MBR is the key to control a PC.

"If you can control the MBR, you can control the operating system and therefore the computer it resides on," said Symantec's security expert Elia Florio.

Computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 that are not fully patched and are vulnerable to the virus.

In the last month, the malicious program has hacked up to 5,000 accounts - most of them in Europe. While, Independent security firm GMER has produced a utility that will scan and remove this stealthy program.

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