Buying swine flu treatmentTamifluover the internet could risk ID theft by
cybercriminals, warns security firmSophos.
Cybercrimininals are exploiting fears of Tamiflu shortages to
lure people into giving them sensitive personal information through
fraudulent websites.
Underground web affiliates have formed networks aimed at
profiting from fraudulent Tamiflu sales that are also designed to
harvest information to be used in other crimes, according to a
study published by Sophos.
Thousands of affiliates use spam, adware and malware to drive
traffic to their partners' fake pharmaceutical stores, the report
said.
These affiliates are able to earn up to $16,000 a day or $5.8m a
year promoting pharmaceutical websites, researchers have found.
The UK is among the top five countries purchasing Tamiflu and
other drugs from these sites and thus unwittingly assisting
additional criminal activity.
Sophos expects concerns about swine flu will drive an even
greater volume of traffic and sales through these criminal
websites.
"The worrying trend of stockpiling Tamiflu has already been seen
in Britain," said
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
In July, when concerns that global Tamiflu production were
falling behind schedule, there was a 1,400% increase in UK internet
searches for Tamiflu.
"As more and more cases of swine flu in the UK come to light, it
is essential that we all resist the panic-induced temptation to
purchase Tamiflu online," said Cluley.
Anyone who thinks they need medication should consult their
local health authorities and stay away from quacks on the internet,
he said.