Myanmar student jailed for stealing user IDs with hidden software

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Myanmar student jailed for stealing user IDs with hidden software
By DPA
Jan 21, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Singapore - A student from Myanmar using hidden software was jailed for 10 months in Singapore after stealing the user IDs and passwords of several people and then trying to rob them online, news reports said Saturday.

Min Pyi Sone, 19, acquired the software called Perfect Keylogger, which records the keystrokes users make on their computers, and attached it to two games files.

He invited his fellow countrymen via email to play these games in early November last year, The Straits Times said.

When they downloaded the files and played the games, the Keylogger programme was installed remotely onto their computers without their knowledge, the district court was told.

Within a month, Min had received numerous Keylogger log files in his email account, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng.

One of his victims was a 23-year-old Myanmar student, Nyein Chan Win.

Min tried to transfer money from Nyein\'s bank account to his own, Tan said. He used Nyein\'s Internet banking user ID and password to log into his account, but failed to transfer money to his own since he did not have the access code.

He did manage to use 2,400 Singapore dollars (1,437 U.S.) from the account to pay a telephone bill.

Nyein discovered the Keylogger programme in his computer on November 29 and contacted police.

Min pleaded guilty to two charges under the Computer Misuse Act and was sentenced by District Judge Bala Reddy.

A Vietnamese computer engineering student became the first person to be prosecuted in Singapore for similar offences in May 2004.

Nguyen Van Phi Hung, 22, was jailed for 20 months.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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