SecureWorks Reports Number of Hackers Attacking Banks Up 81 Percent

SecureWorks, the largest managed information security services provider safeguarding 1,800 clients and more financial institutions than any other vendor, announced today that the number of hackers attempting to attack its banking clients is up 81% since last year and hackers attempting to attack its credit union clients is up 62% since last year. SecureWorks blocked 167 million hacker attacks in the last 30 days.

"In June 2006 to December of 2006, we were blocking attacks from approximately 808 hackers per bank per month," said Allen Wilson, VP of Research for SecureWorks. "Since the beginning of 2007 up until June, the average number of hackers launching attacks at each of our banks is 1,462. For our credit unions, we were blocking attacks from 1,110 hackers per credit union per month. That number has risen to 1,799 hackers per credit union per month."

"We've seen the number of hackers increase year over year, as more and more criminals realize the money that can be made and the minimal risk they face in perpetrating these crimes," said Allen Wilson, VP of Research. "Most of the hackers we see stealing financial data are located in Russia and Eastern Europe, however, we are witnessing a growing number coming out of China. These countries have large numbers of talented young people who are extremely computer literate. Challenging socioeconomic conditions, combined with a lack of computer crime legislation, makes the allure of committing low- risk, fraud- related crimes against victims on the other side of the world an appealing choice."

"The amount of stolen financial data we have found since the first of the year has been daunting," said Don Jackson, security researcher for SecureWorks and discoverer of the Gozi and Prg Trojans. See http://secureworks.com/research/threats/gozitrojan and http://secureworks.com/research/threats/prgtrojan/

"With the Gozi, Prg and BBB trojans alone, we found millions of dollars of data sitting in their stolen repositories," said Jackson. "These data caches contained thousands of bank account and credit card numbers, social security numbers, online payment accounts and user names and passwords, and we are finding new caches of stolen data everyday, evidence that more and more criminals are getting into the game."

Featured

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.