A leading computer security company says it has discovered one of the most sophisticated pieces of malicious software ever seen.<\/p>\n
Symantec says the bug, named Regin, was probably created by a government and has been used for six years against a range of targets around the world.<\/p>\n
Once installed on a computer, it can do things like capture screenshots, steal passwords or recover deleted files.<\/p>\n
Experts say computers in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ireland have been hit most.<\/p>\n
It has been used to spy on government organisations, businesses and private individuals, they say.<\/p>\n
Researchers say the sophistication of the software indicates that it is a cyber-espionage tool developed by a nation state.<\/p>\n
They also said it likely took months, if not years, to develop and its creators have gone to great lengths to cover its tracks.<\/p>\n
Sian John, a security strategist at Symantec, said: “It looks like it comes from a Western organisation. It’s the level of skill and expertise, the length of time over which it was developed.”<\/p>\n
Symantec has drawn parallels with Stuxnet, a computer worm thought to have been developed by the US and Israel to target Iran’s nuclear program.<\/p>\n
That was designed to damage equipment, whereas Regin’s purpose appears to be to collect information.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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