Amit Klein, noted malware researcher
and CTO of Trusteer, a provider of
secure web access services, has stated
the use of mobile devices for
authenticating banking transactions
and payments, while still in its
infancy, is poised to take off in
popularity.

However the snag is criminals have figured out how to take control of mobile handsets and hijack communications coming from financial institutions. Amit plans to educate visitors to AusCERT2011 of the criminals’ game plan and arm them with tactics to effectively fight back.

Titled ‘Navigating the Risks and Threats of Mobile Banking’, Amit’s seminar at AusCERT2011 will give delegates an overview of financial malware today and its trends, including what is happening in the mobile world, such as the Zeus MITMO/ZITMO attacks, and the porting of this attack recently to SpyEye.

He will cover mobile world analogies to the desktop financial malware and the new avenues for financial malware in the mobile world, which are not applicable to the desktop world.

Amit said: “I’m steadfast in my determination to thwart hackers, and to stop them exploiting browser vulnerabilities, that are threatening the otherwise wonderful opportunity presented by the mobile world. Education is fundamental in this battle, especially if we’re to emerge triumphant in the war against malware.”