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Regin
Irish computers are being attacked by one of the most sophisticated viruses ever
The virus named Regin is thought to have been created by a government in the last six years.
IRISH COMPUTERS ARE being targeted by one of the most sophisticated viruses of all time.
That is the warning from Symantec, the company which manufactures Norton anti-virus software.
The company says that the Regin bug, which is believed to have been created by an unnamed government, has been used around the world for the last six years.
Once installed on a computer, it can steal passwords, recover deleted files and even capture screenshots.
Experts say that Ireland, Russia and Saudi Arabia have been targeted most frequently.
A Symantec spokesperson told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the company has been tracking the virus for over a year.
Orla Cox said that a “relatively high profile” Irish organisation had been hit with the virus, but that there was no indication of a financial cost.
Regin “bears all the hallmarks” of being developed by a nation state, she added.
She warned that the virus is ”highly stealthy” and that the company’s software could detect the virus.
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