'GameOver Zeus' Virus Infects PCs Worldwide - Tech Experts Encourage PC Users to Protect Systems with Anti-Virus
The U.S. authorities and a team of international investigators have interrupted a cybercriminal group responsible for secretly infecting a million computers worldwide with a virus called "GameOver Zeus." The virus was designed to steal banking information and damage computer systems. The virus first enters into computers through email. The virus was suspected by the officials to have already stolen $100 million among many users worldwide.
The FBI was able to stop the cybercriminal group who operates the virus. The GameOver Zeus or P2PZeus was designed by a Russian man named Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, and was operated with the help of other Ukrainian men. Aside from stealing bank credentials and other personal information, the virus also installs a malicious trojan program called "Cryptolocker." Cryptolocker disguises as an email attachment that when opened, it encrypts various files stored on a computer and later asks a payment to decrypt them.
The Pittsburgh court and others from Omaha, Nebraska charged Bogachev with multiple conspiracy and criminal charges regarding his direct involvement with the GameOver Zeus virus. FBI Executive Assistant Director Robert Anderson said that the virus was one of the most complicated botnets (robot network) they have ever disrupted, according to PC World.
With the recent virus spread in the cyber space, tech experts and the authorities encourage users to add protection to their computer systems by installing anti-virus programs and doing virus-prevention methods.
Experts suggest that users must install a good anti-virus program for their computers. Anti-virus programs nowadays offer more than just malware and virus protection. Several programs now protect against email phishing, unauthorised information access, and more.
Institution of Engineering and Technology's head of cyber security team Hugh Boyes says that users must always protect their passwords, according to The Independent. Boyes adds that if users really need to store passwords in the computer, they must use a good password manager application.
Users are also advised to be always aware of opening suspicious email attachments. Many spam emails make their way to various email accounts every day.
The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) says that when a worldwide virus emerges, users must immediately change their passwords. US-CERT says there might be a good chance that the GameOver Zeus might have compromised passwords, and it's a good decision to act quickly against it.
Though the authorities has already seized the computer servers for the operations of the virus, various reports say that PC users worldwide must still be vigilant in protecting their computer systems as the virus is still out.