Credit cards
Some of the exposed credit card details included Pins and email addresses

FaceTime uncovers online credit card stash

'Stupid criminal' posted stolen details on warez forum ... along with his photo

Written by Clement James

FaceTime Security Labs has discovered a large collection of stolen credit card details posted on a warez forum.

The warez discussion groups are frequented by hackers trading pirated media and video games.

FaceTime said that some of the exposed credit card details included Pins and email addresses, indicating that the information had been obtained from a back-end online payment system.

Chris Boyd, senior director of malware research at FaceTime, said: "The odd thing is that the person who posted the details does not really come across as a professional carder.

"It is more like someone who happened to stumble across a stockpile of sensitive information and is now trying to distribute it as quickly as he can.

"This is a case of stupid criminals at work. The poster happily included all of this information with a photograph of himself as well as his location listed under his forum avatar."

Boyd explained that he and other researchers are constantly searching for malware, botnets, spyware and incidents of hacking that can compromise personal and company data.

While this research is used to protect FaceTime's enterprise network security customers, the team occasionally uncovers incidents that affect a wide variety of consumers.

"Everyone takes a security risk when they shop or hang out online, but we can reduce the risk with some common sense and specific moves," said Boyd.

"A company would never stop using email just because they get spam, but everyone needs to balance the benefits of the web with ways to avoid the risks. "

Tags:

Further reading

Security experts slam Soca job cuts

Greatly increased threat to UK business   More...

Bank details for sale on the web

As little as £1 buys you an active bank account   More...

HMRC data blunder to cost at least £500m

Gartner warns of 'enormously expensive' emergency measures   More...

Fraudsters gear up for bumper Christmas

Online shoppers still leaving themselves exposed   More...

Related articles

Cyber-crooks target chat platforms

Unique threats soar in 2007   More...

Hijacked Facebook accounts used to spread torture pics

'Disturbing' photo attacks reported   More...

Hackers launch DIY phishing kit

Site targets social networks and webmail users   More...

McAfee paints grim picture for 2008

Huge rise in web 2.0 attacks and smarter botnets   More...

Do you agree?

Advertisement

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Watch

25 Jul 2008

7.85 MBPodcast Special: Views from the Valley More...

24 Jul 2008

3.68 MBSpammer jailed, Esquire e-cover, and network passwords More...

23 Jul 2008

2.99 MBSmall time security, official 'spying' requests and a spammer jail break More...

Poll

EUROPEAN E-COMMERCE

EUROPEAN E-COMMERCE

Are you happy making an online purchase from another European country?

Previous poll results

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Spotlight

Credit card transaction

Credit card fraud rampant in the UK

Attempted frauds go unreported and ignored, analysts claim   More...

Intel

Intel rolls out new embedded line-up

System-on-a-chip offerings promise footprint and power saving   More...

Advertisement

Network cables

Tech giants collaborate on wireless HD

Another attempt at cable-free transmission in the home   More...

iPhone fever fills AT&T coffers

US provider cashes in on Apple smartphone   More...

Advertisement