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Bank branch robberies are passe

Dawn Kawamoto Former Staff writer, CNET News
Dawn Kawamoto covered enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News.
Dawn Kawamoto
Three Japanese banks were the latest victims of an online heist, in which a total of $84,000 was illegally withdrawn via the use of spyware, according to Japanese media reports Wednesday.

The funds were pilfered from nine accounts spread among Mizuho Bank, eBank Corp. and Japan Net Bank, after a malicious attacker used spyware to gain eventual access to the accounts. The institutions are currently wrestling with how to compensate the customers for their losses, the report noted.

The recent incidents in Japan come as online banking increases in popularity, but bankers fear interest will be tempered by the increase in security breaches.