AhnLab Cautions Against Increasing Financial Information Threat: AhnLab, Inc. (www.ahnlab.com), a leading provider of integrated security solutions, recently cautioned against the increasing ZeuS bot threat that attempts to steal personal banking information. Lately, the AhnLab Security Emergency Response (ASEC) identified the distribution of email with a malicious URL and attachment which leads victims to malicious webpage that distributes ZeuS bot.
Vergrößern AhnLab Cautions Against Increasing Financial Information Threat | Bild: © dpa

Recently, the email subject states ?FWD: I?m in trouble?, and within the email body a user can click on a link that states ?here is the photo.? Upon clicking on this link the user is connected to a webpage that installs ZeuS malware by exploiting the vulnerabilities of applications including Java and Adobe flash.

AhnLab?s research also identified that the number of the ZeuS bot in Korea jumped from 44,619 in the last quarter in 2011 to 43,637 in January 2012 alone. According to AhnLab, this kind of threat, including ZeuS bot, that is stealing personal banking information is expected to increase, as the source code of ZeuS bot was leaked in May of 2011.

?Asia, including Korea, is believed to be relatively safe from ZeuS threat than other regions,? said HoWoong Lee, the director of ASEC. ?However, the leakage of source code of ZeuS changed the scenery. The number of ZeuS malicious code had recorded its highest in June 2011, right after the leakage. It is very important for financial institutions and other organizations to build robust security systems and to educate, while letting individual users know more about the danger of ZeuS.?

In an effort to combat this threat, AhnLab offers its AhnLab Online Security (AOS) solution, which can block ZeuS, SpyEye, and other ?Man-In-The-Browser (MITB)? attacks, as well as network intrusions and packet manipulation in real time.

Unlike the conventional security solutions, AhnLab?s AOS provides integrated and multi-layered transaction security with four primary components including: AOS Secure Browser, a dedicated security browser that creates a protected environment for online transactions; AOS Firewall, detecting and blocking unauthorized intrusions and hacking attempts and preventing the leakage of personal information; AOS Anti-keylogger, keeping account information safe and prevent theft of sensitive personal data that is input via a keyboard and AOS Anti-virus/spyware, an integrated antivirus service that allows users to detect and remove viruses, malicious codes and spywares.

Many world-famous banks including Citibank Korea, Banamex, Banco Santander and Cornerstone Community Bank selected AhnLab Online Security to keep its internet banking environment from today's sophisticated security threats.

For more information about AhnLab?s AOS solution, please visit: http://aos.ahnlab.com.

About AhnLab, Inc.

Headquartered in South-Korea, AhnLab Inc. (KRX:053800) develops industry-leading security solutions and provides professional services that are designed to secure and protect critical business and personal information. As a leading innovator in the information security arena since 1988, AhnLab's cutting edge products and services have been fulfilling the stringent security requirements of both enterprises and individual users. AhnLab?s products and services include anti-virus solutions, network, mobile and online game security, security management and consulting services. Today, AhnLab boasts a network of sales and research operations in more than 20 countries worldwide.