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In its communication, the Greek cyber crime unit warns those citizens who carry out their banking transactions via the Internet that the new Banking Malware breaks through security systems, being able to "read" the personal data not only of the specific user but also of all those who are connected to him or her.

In particular, the new malware is able to acquire all access data to online banking, including usernames and passwords, and can collect user network traffic data (sniff network traffic), thus obtaining the personal data of other users connected to the specific user.

This software called EMOTET spreads rapidly via e-mails. A user receives an e-mail, which is supposed to inform him or her of some money transfer to his or her bank account and which contains a link for more information regarding this transfer. By clicking on the link, the user starts the installation of the malicious software, being unaware of this.

The software is even able to break through the secure HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) connection. This exposes the access data to online banking to a great danger since users believe that their online banking operations are secure.

The Greek cyber crime unit advises those citizens who have received e-mail messages with similar content neither to open the links nor to download the files in the e-mail.

In all cases, users are advised to liaise with, and consult, their bank in order to confirm the reliability of the online message before proceeding to the next action.

If a user clicks on a link in such an e-mail, which is confirmed to be a spam, it is recommended to reinstall the entire operation system.

As Internet usage is becoming a significant part of our daily lives, the development of malwares that threaten our financial operations is becoming more frequent too. About a month ago, the cyber crime unit warned of crackers, i.e. third parties who enter the e-mail correspondence of commercial companies to find information about their commercial transactions. Then subsequently, they send e-mails to the company requesting the making of the due payment and finally the amount is transferred to the hacker’s bank account. Experts recommend continuous monitoring of financial operations in order for the commercial companies to be able to protect their online data and their transactions.