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It’s Days Until Gameover Zeus!

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You have days before your computer may be infected by deadly malware ‘Gameover Zeus’. Here’s everything you need to know to protect your PC. 

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IT experts have warned that you may have mere days before your computers are infected with a deadly, money stealing malware named ‘Gameover Zeus’, that can leave you seriously out of pocket. Here’s everything you need to know about the malware and how you can protect your IT system.

What is Gameover Zeus?

Gameover Zeus is a cyber-pandemic waiting to happen. This dangerous malware could be lying dormant on thousands of infected computers slowly collecting data. Once on your computer it will interrupt and seize any financial transactions, redirecting any payments to other accounts. These payments are then disguised so no errors appear on bank statements.

Gameover Zeus is extremely clever and in most cases enters machines when user open a PDF sent to them by email. This is undetected by anti-virus software

Nick Savvides, Senior Principal Systems Engineer at Symantec said:

‘It keeps track of balances; it automatically corrects the numbers on the balance. It’s so sophisticated that it hides its tracks’

Where Has Been Worst Hit?

So far it has been estimated that somewhere between 500,000 and 1million computers have been hit worldwide. And users have lost tens of millions of pounds.

The US and Italy have been the worst affected across the globe and are now deemed ‘hot spots’ for the malware, with 13% and 12% respectively of computers infected. The United Arab Emirates then follow with 8%, the UK and Japan with 7% and India with 5%.

What You Can do to Fight Gameover Zeus

Gameover Zeus has now been shut down by police and IT experts but this is the 3rd time they have tried doing so since 2011. It just keeps coming back. All computer users now have under a week to install a new anti-virus and to clean up their hard drive before the malware is expected to reboot.

Troubles have occurred when trying to shut down this malware as it uses peer-to-peer software, which means once infected computers can communicate with one another. There are also strong links with Cryptolocker, which holds not ‘viable’ victims’ information ransom for 1 bitcoin (roughly £400).

If you are worried your computer may have been infected or would like to do your best to prevent infection, here are a few tips:

  • Install a new anti-virus
  • Clear up your hard drives
  • Install the latest security updates
  • Change all passwords
  • Don’t open any suspicious emails from unknown addresses
  • Back up valuable data
  • Businesses should take part in IT security training to prevent future attacks

If the malware has got onto your computer you should be contacted ASAP by your internet service provider. But in the meantime, the countdown has begun. Start your IT security update and training today!

The post It’s Days Until Gameover Zeus! appeared first on Global Knowledge UK Blog.


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