A Trojan has hit Microsoft's AntiSpyware (Beta), which disables it, and steals banking details login Ids and passwords.
Trojans or "Trojan horse" is a type of program that allows other people to access your machine (generally for malicious purposes) over the Internet.
Trojans cannot propagate themselves like a virus. You have to download an application or the server exe file, which is usually sent in an e-mail message.
The email message will promise you something good and would prompt you to download and installs the exe attachment. This is why it is called a Trojan horse -- you have to consciously or unconsciously run the EXE to install the server side on your computer. Once this is done then criminals who had designed the Trojan can remotely manipulate your computer.
The password stealing Troj/BankAsh-A Trojan, discovered yesterday, is a spyware. It keeps a track of user activities on the computer. It spies on you.
If you happen to visit any of the online bank accounts of Barclays, Cahoot, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, NatWest, and Smile, then it starts recording your keystrokes. This way it steals your login ids and passwords. The Trojan then sends the details on a remote FTP. Trojan makers can then use those details to steal your money from your bank accounts.
The Trojan also disables Microsoft AntiSpyware, currently available only as a beta download. It deletes all files within the folder named C:Program FilesMicrosoft AntiSpyware. The Trojan also removes important entries of the antispyware in the registry and thus literal kills the antispyware.
Microsoft Antispyware is still in its Beta version (experimental version). Over a period of time software developers will know the flaws in the antispyware and would hopefully rectify them.
