Bankhook.A Steals Your Bank Password

Bankhook.A is an indication that organized crime is starting to take advantage of security holes on the Internet for gain.  It downloads to your system as an Internet Explorer helper when it serves you a pop-under ad.  (You thought those pop-unders were just annoying.)  You can avoid Bankhook.A  But the choices aren't all that pretty. 

Option 1

Change your Internet Explorer Security Settings to HIGH.

1. In Internet Explorer, click on [Tools], then [Internet Options...]
2. Click on the [Security] tab
3. Highlight the [Internet] icon
4. In the section labeled [Security Level for this Zone], move the slider to [High]

Changing this setting to high may cause some websites not to display or function properly.  You can change the security for these on a site-by-site basis.

1. Go to that same [Security] tab as described above
2. Highlight the [Trusted sites] icon
3. Click on the [Sites] button
4. Type the website address, and click [Add]
5. Click [Okay]
6. Slide the security settings for the [Trusted sites] zone to medium.

Option 2

Change your browser to something other than Internet Explorer.

Option 3

BHO Tool

For the more technically inclined, use BHODemon to enable/disable Internet Explorer Browser Helper Objects one-by-one.  Only do this if you really understand your way around IE technically.

Option 4

Update your virus definitions and use your anti-virus software religiously.  Wait a minute.  This isn't an option.  It's a requirement!

Here's a list of the banks that are affected by Bankhook.A.  Just because your bank isn't listed doesn't mean that it won't be affected in a newer version.  So don't let your guard down.