http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6139406,00.html Press Association October 11, 2006 An investigation has been launched into data recovered from a computer in the US that was found to contain information from hacked computers based in the UK. The Metropolitan Police's Computer Crime Unit is investigating the data, which was stolen from more than 2,300 computers by the use of a computer virus. Police estimate around 83,000 files in the UK have been targeted by the hackers but it is thought thousands of computer users around the world may have had data stolen. E-mail addresses, passwords, credit card numbers and other confidential information has been recovered by police during the course of the investigation. The details were harvested from the computers by a type of malicious code known as a "Backdoor". It is not yet known how many computers have been infected but officers are taking steps to notify the UK victims of the online attack. Banks and other online services, including internet service providers, are also being alerted. A police spokesman said: "Identity theft performed by computer viruses is on the increase. As in this case, it often goes on without the knowledge of the computer's owner." He said victims who are e-mailed by the Met's Computer Crime Unit should contact the detectives named on the contact number provided. Police are advising computer users to regularly update their anti-virus programme virus signatures and scan their computers to help avoid becoming a victim. People who shop online are urged to check bank statements regularly to ensure no illegal transactions have taken place. Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved. _________________________________ Visit the InfoSec News store! http://www.shopinfosecnews.org
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