Beware! Browser attacking virus 'Fireball' prowling in cyberspace

Cyber security sleuths have alerted internet users against the destructive activity of a browser-attacking virus- 'Fireball'- that steals sensitive user data and manipulates regular surfing activity.

The malware has been spreading across the globe and possesses over two dozen aliases and spreads by bundling and "without the user's consent".

"It has been reported that a malware named as 'Fireball' targeting browsers is spreading worldwide.

"It has the ability to collect user information, manipulate web-traffic to generate ad-revenue, malware dropping and executing malicious code on the infected machines," the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) said in its latest advisory to internet users.

The CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related defences of the Indian internet domain.

The agency said the malware or the virus can be "detected by majority of the anti-virus solutions" and it has advised internet users to install updated anti-virus solutions to protect their computers from this infection.