U.S. authorities charge three over "Gozi" computer virus

U.S. authorities have announced charges against three Eastern European men who allegedly infected computers worldwide to steal millions of dollars. They have used a malicious computer code or malware dubbed the "Gozi Virus" to hack into bank accounts, stealing bank information. The malware infected more than 1 million computers, including some at NASA.

Prosecutors say the ultra sophisticated scam unfolded between 2005 and March 2012 and that the virus was "virtually undetectable in the computers it infected." They also explain that although NASA computers were among the 25,000 devices infected inside the United States, they did not believe sensitive strategic information was stolen.

The defendants - Deniss Calovskis, 27, a Latvian; Nikita Kuzmin, 25, a Russian; and Mihai Ionut Paunescu, 28, a Romanian - were charged with a variety of counts, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

"This case should serve as a wake-up call to banks and consumers alike, because cyber crime remains one of the greatest threats we face, and it is not going away any time soon," Preet Bharara, a U.S. attorney in Manhattan said. "It threatens our financial security and our national security."

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