Technology

I spy with my little … SpyEye?

A new toolkit known as \"SpyEye\" allows hackers to issue commands to networks of thousands of bot computers to deliver scam and conduct hack attacks. And the p...

Federal News Network Staff

August 22, 2011 10:41 am

< a min read

Hackers have a new, nifty little tool in their arsenal. Called “SpyEye,” USA Today reports that in the first six months of this year, the tool was used by dozens of online gangs, commanding more than two million infected computers nationwide.

The toolkit can issue commands to networks of thousands of bots to deliver spam scams, conduct hack attacks and booby-trap legitimate websites with infections that create more bots.

But SpyEye may be best known for helping bad guys siphoning cash from online banking accounts of consumers and small organizations.

SpyEye normally sells on the cyber black market for as much as $10,000. But, as of last week, the latest, most powerful version of SpyEye could be acquired for just $95.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.