Antivirus Software of Bkav has discovered a dangerous kind of spyware called BrowserSpy, which is believed to be spying on over 560,000 computers in Vietnam, and the number is rising, said a source from Bkav Corporation on July 26.
According to a report by Van Ly on Saigon Times, BrowserSpy can spy on users, seeing much of the information on their computers or laptops, which enables it to steal personal data, bank account details and email and Facebook passwords. Bkav suggested users remove the viruses and change their Gmail, email and Facebook passwords, and especially their bank account login details.
Hackers create fake software as a shell in which they hide BrowserSpy. Users download it without considering whether it might be dangerous for their computers or laptops. After activation, BrowserSpy adds a plug-in for the purpose of tracking and spying on users.
Accordingly, the spyware can secretly steal personal information and, more dangerously, downloads other malware to control users’ computers and carry out an advanced persistent threat attack.
Vu Ngoc Son, deputy head of the anti-malware department of Bkav, remarked that users would find it hard to recognize which computer was infected with BrowserSpy as there are no unusual signs on display.
“Users can install antivirus software on their computers,” Son said, adding that users should not download any software with unclear origins.