Crimeware Crimewave

Online swindlers are now using crafty new software, dubbed ‘Crimeware’, to exploit security holes in computer programs and corporate networks, reports USAToday:

The emergence of so-called crimeware programs comes as law-enforcement officials aggressively prosecute cases involving spam and fraudulent e-mails used in phishing scams, which trick recipients into yielding personal data at fake Web sites.

The rise in crimeware reflects a shift in strategy, says Matt Sergeant, senior anti-spam technologist at MessageLabs. Last year, virus writers and spammers collaborated to hijack consumer PCs to spread spam. Now, spyware purveyors are teaming with phishers to steal and sell personal information, he says.