After an alert from the cyber crime folks over at SOCA (serious organised crime agency) Virgin Media has been aware that 1,500 of their customers PCs have been infected with malware. If you're a Virgin Mobile customer, here's a little guide of what you're dealing with and what to do about it.
The Malware
The malware in question is a SpyEye Trojan which can track a users internet activity even on encrypted websites, providing criminals with a whole host of sensitive information from personal details, email addresses and passwords to bank details. It's closely related to the Zeus malware which is thought to have helped crooks steal around £20m last year alone.
Virgin's Reaction
Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: “Cybercrime is on the rise and the increasing sophistication of malware infections mean that all internet users could be at risk with devastating effects.
“We are taking this proactive approach to help protect our customers and to provide them with the support and advice they need to stay safe online so that they can enjoy the best of the internet without the worry.”
What To Do
Virgin has sent a little to all its affected customers with details on how to remove the malware. So if you're a virgin customer, be careful what information you display online until you know you're in the clear. If you're worried about your details, approach Virgin for advice, or even pop to your bank if you think you're bank details could be at risk. Changing your passwords and email addresses won't hurt either.