New computer virus targets Venezuelans after vote

The digital security company Kaspersky Lab says a newly detected computer virus aims to steal Venezuelans' online credentials using a file that purports to reveal information about the country's recent presidential election.

A virus targets the credentials of Venezuelans (image source: GettyImages)

Dmitry Bestuzhev is head of the Moscow-based company's research and analysis team in Latin America. He says the malicious software was detected after the Oct. 7 presidential election. He says at least 75 Kaspersky customers have been attacked but other non-customers have surely been hit too.

Bestuzhev says in a blog post Friday that the malicious file is named "listas-fraude-electoral.pdf.exe," which translates as "electoral fraud lists." He says the malware allows criminals to steal victims' banking information and also online credentials for Venezuela's currency agency.

Officials with that government agency could not be immediately reached for comment.

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Associated Press