The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new security threat for India’s Internet users

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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A new security threat for India’s Internet users

Pharming attack is used by hackers to make financial gains

Chandigarh: Internet users now will have to be more watchful while carrying out their online financial transactions as Pharming, a new security threat used by hackers for making financial gains, is surfacing in the country.

“Pharming attack is a new security threat for the Internet users which is developing in the country and it is primarily launched by the hackers on the websites for getting financial gains,” Cyber Security Research Centre Associate Coordinator Divya Bansal said.

Redirect traffic

“Hackers redirect Internet traffic from one website to a different, identical-looking site in order to allure you to enter your user name and password on their fake site,” said Ms. Bansal.

Hackers try to acquire personal information in order to access the user’s bank account, steal the identity, or commit other kinds of fraud in his name. Banking and similar financial sites often become target of these attacks, she said.

Although there are few incidents of pharming happening in the country and they have not been largely reported, she said.

She further added that the problem could further deepen because of growing usage of Internet in India.

India has about four million internet subscribers and 11 million users.

Agreeing that it is a new security threat, Microsoft Corporation Director (Corporate Affairs) Deepak Maheshwari said, “this is just an extension of Phishing which also has a motive of making quick money.” — PTI

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