Online banking customers have been warned about two new viruses which are being used for the purposes of fraud.
The malware programs – which are specifically targeting
UK bank customers – are bypassing most anti-virus programs.
According to security company Trusteer, Silon.var2 was found on one in every 500 computers in the UK, while Agent.DBJP was present in one in 5,000.
However, the programs were seen in very few machines in the US, which Trusteer said highlights the "UK-centric" nature of the attack.
Mickey Boodaei, chief executive of Trusteer, said the discovery indicates a shift in fraudulent activity, and advised financial organisations to take preventative measures.
“Unlike known malware kits such as Zeus, Torpig, and Ambler which simultaneously target hundreds of banks and enterprises around the world and are on the radar of all security vendors, regional financial malware such as Silon.var2 and Agent.DBJP are highly targeted," he said.
He explained that the programs tend to target three to seven banks for around six to nine months, before switching to focus on another group.
Trusteer has advised regional banks to work together in order to identify and prevent further attacks.
