THERE is a growing trend among computer hackers to target individuals and use them to gain access to corporate databases and banking systems, according to a qualified ethical hacker.

Matthew Parker from Ernst & Young’s technology and security risk services department, said companies should not underestimate the threat from their own employees.

‘Hackers no longer directly attack corporate computer mainframe websites. Instead they concentrate on downloading software onto individual computers which enable them to record every keystroke made and steal log-in details.  They then know everything about the person from the websites they visit to the passwords they use. It is a back door which can get them into a company’s database.’

Mr Parker learned about the technique at a course he attended recently run by the Sans Institute – SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security – a global IT organisation. ‘It’s very important to find out about hacking developments and trends regularly because they change so rapidly,’ he said.