A veritable malware epidemic has erupted among Malaysian smartphone and tablet users. The culprit is the Zeus virus, sadly known even in our latitudes for having stolen rivers of money by sneaking into online banking systems. The virus began its career by infecting computers running on the Windows operating system, then expanded its range, attacking smartphones and tablets, especially Bla'kBerry and all devices using Android and Symbian systems.
The virus sends an Internet link via SMS or WhatsApp message; when the user opens it, the virus installs itself on the system, ready to activate when accessing online banking services. A fake Internet page, which simulates that of the user's bank, presents a series of pop-up windows in which you are asked to enter your details. The virus, managed remotely, thus manages to obtain the codes that authorize financial transactions.
The Malaysian authority that deals with commercial fraud, the Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department, has sounded the alarm, denouncing that, in the last month alone, hundreds of thousands of ringitt - the Malaysian monetary unit - ended up in the pockets of who is behind the infection of Zeus. While the investigations proceed, Datuk Hamza Taib, deputy director of the Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department, urged smartphone and tablet owners to equip themselves with efficient antivirus programs and, above all, to constantly update them.
