Antivirus security company ESET is warning bank customers to be on their guard against a new Zeus Trojan Virus which is said to have been responsible for thefts of up to one million pounds.

It’s estimated by the antivirus security team that around 3,000 customers have become victims of the Trojan Virus. Companies such as ESET encourage UK internet users to be more responsible when banking online; far too many take a lenient approach to the security of their most personal details.

Mark James, UK technical manager for ESET, says: “This high profile cyber attack needs to be a wake-up call to UK internet users who must take more responsibility for their own internet security and safe.”

Many internet users are unaware of the dangers or how they can be addressed, and are too dismissive of the patches sent out by applications such as Microsoft and Adobe. Instead of downloading these vital upgrades, users ignore them, and their computers are left vulnerable to attacks.

Many believe that these updates are simply interfering with the workings of your computer, by slowing them down or making them less efficient and harder to run. This is a stigma antivirus software companies wish to dispel.

Antivirus software companies advise that users should continually check for updates to their antivirus software and to any application patches that are offered, and not to ignore them. Even more dangerous is to not have a piece of antivirus software at all; there are a significant number of internet users who remain unprotected in such a manner. Simply downloading the first free antivirus protection software one finds is not advisable either, with companies warning they many only provide the most basic level of security, and typically have no customer support network.

The three main things that any internet or computer user must do to maintain a healthy computer and a safe time on the internet – and thereby reducing the risk of losing vast amounts of money through things such as the banking Trojan Virus – are simple and easy to do.

First, users must ensure that they allow the updates that their antivirus security software. Second, they must check to make sure all patches for applications are downloaded. Third, and probably the most important, is that antivirus software that provides comprehensive protection against internet threats is downloaded.

Guest Article by Neil Camp