Virus via mobile phone.

[hotspur (Chris)]

Talking with niece at family gathering over Easter,she does everything online,including a large amount of purchasing via mobile phone,somehow her business computer set up became infected.The bank contacted here,re some transactions to India,and she had to go into Westpac and get it sorted,think the hacker was called 'Zuses' or similar,they did not get any money,but somehow got access to her FB page and that sort of thing.


Not sure on the full details,but it appears maybe all her ebay transaction via mobile phone,may have lead to this.Anyone heard of similar?

[pluto (Hugh)]

There are certainly viruses/malware out there for all mobile operating systems, especially Android, but it's more likely to be a more traditional mistake like following a link from a fake eBay email or something. If you're using the official eBay app for iOS, from the App Store, or Android, from the Play Store, (does WP8 or BB have one?) or visiting the real eBay site from your mobe then you should be fine.

As it has always been the vast majority of virus/malware require the user to run/install them. Even in the heady virus filled days of WinXP there were only a handful of worms that could get access to your box without any intervention from the user (remember the Blaster worm!).

Personally I think the main precaution every mobile user needs to use is to check the spelling of URLs they type in, especially if it's a bank or retailer where you will use bank/cc details.
And NEVER do banking/shopping over those free (unsecured) wifi points at Maccas or the airport etc.

[Wavytone]

Sounds like it was a variant of Zeus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus_(Trojan_horse)

[hotspur (Chris)]

Some good information there,yes @pluto,she might have used some free wifi point in a shop.I've never used those-and will keep what you mention in mind.

Think,some how she got a message from what appeared to be from her bank,think she might have gone through the first hoop,before she stopped.The bank was very quick to pick it up,and contact her.She really is into all this online stuff in a big way.

I am afraid I'm too slow for most of this internet stuff,I have a different bank account I just fill up with a bit of money before a transaction,by going into branch and making deposit,and I do not have FB page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus_(Trojan_horse)