Fergie's Tech Blog

Internet Thieves Raid Hong Kong Bank Accounts

A DPA newswire article, via Enterprise Security Today, reports that:

Hong Kong banks have been ordered to step up online security measures after it emerged that thieves had stolen more than 289,000 Hong Kong dollars (37,000 US dollars) in a series of Internet bank raids, officials confirmed Tuesday.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said the money was stolen in three separate incidents in which people's accounts were accessed by thieves who first infected their computers with viruses that stole bank account login details.

Eight banks have been targeted since April, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

In a statement, the HKMA confirmed it had issued a circular ordering all banks to step up security measures, such as instantly alerting customers by text message or other means every time an online transfer to a third-party is made from their accounts.

posted by Fergie @ 7/16/2009 04:57:00 PM