Cyber thieves implanting PCs with malware to steal financial data: Study

Cyber thieves are reportedly implanting PCs with deliberate malware, a new study has revealed.

Cyber thieves are loading pirated software on to PCs with an open "back door" that allows malware to compromise security and steal personal information, according to a study conducted by IDC and the National University of Singapore.

According to News 24, the study, entitled "The Link Between Pirated Software and Cyber security Breaches", found that new computers purchased from different countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and the US were infected with the malware.

The study says that security threats will cost 500 billion dollars in 2014, with at least 364billion dollars being spent for software breaches.