'Russian cyber-gang behind potent GameOver Zeus virus' which has already plundered £60m
A RUSSIAN gang of alleged cyber criminals are thought to be responsible for a potentially devastating computer virus already thought to have emptied bank accounts of nearly £60m worldwide.
A Government-backed advice site has suffered an 18-hour outage due to "unprecedented demand", as panicked Britons strive to discover how they can protect themselves from the powerful malicious software.
Yesterday, the National Crime Agency warned computer users they have just two weeks to protect themselves from the GameOver Zeus, or GOZeuS, and CryptoLocker viruses that threaten to cost the nation millions of pounds.
More than 15,000 people in the UK are already thought to have been infected with dangerous malware.
Law enforcement agencies from around the world have been successful in temporarily disabling the software, thought to be the most powerful ever malicious device uncovered in the internet.
The FBI have revealed they are chasing Evgeniy Bogachev, who is alleged to be the leader of a Russian-based group responsive for the development and operation of GOZeuS and CryptoLocker.
GOZeuS hides within email attachments that when open give computer access to hackers, who use the software to scan devices for valuable information including bank details.
The online tool can then re-direct money to accounts overseas controlled by criminals.
It is thought over $100m (£60m) has been raked in by the potent botnet - a collection of internet-connected programmes communicating with each other.
CryptoLocker is a secondary threat that activates if no valuable data is found, and this malware locks the computer, demanding a ransom to grant access again.
Britons have been urged to check their anti-virus software is up to date and run scans to ensure all applications are running correctly.
Important files such as photos and videos should also be backed up in case computers are locked by CryptoLocker.
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