Online bank users locked out

The latest twist in the internet spying game has New Zealand banks blocking hundreds of customers from banking online from today.

The country's major banks have told hundreds of customers that from this morning, access to bank websites is blocked because of infection with a "spyware" program.

The spyware, created by US firm Marketscore, infects PCs when the user accesses certain websites.

All major banks are understood to be working on helping customers clean up their PCs. Westpac has notified 1400 customers. Some ANZ National, ASB and BNZ users have also been warned.

No fraud is being committed but banks are concerned about "secure" internet sessions, where passwords and usernames are required.

"[The program] records a secure session and disguises itself as part of the session. It's very clever," said Westpac spokesman Paul Gregory.

Marketscore offers free software on its site, such as "accelerated" internet access but downloads its tracking software at the same time. The spyware then "harvests" information on what users do online, and sells it to advertising firms.

Marketscore outlines the process in a privacy statement on its website, saying its software "monitors all your internet behaviour" and "any activity you may have through secure sessions".

The Inland Revenue, which uses Westpac, said it was "extremely vigilant" its systems were secure.

"The [IRD] is assessing the impact of this particular issue for taxpayers," said a spokesman.

Banks that have detected the hidden software have posted information on their websites saying what to do if customers have been blocked.

Customers with the snoop software on their PC may have to pay to get it removed.

More than 1.4 million New Zealanders are registered to bank online.

How it works

* Marketscore's site offers incentives to download, such as faster internet access.
* The downloads include a spy program, which records activities on your computer.
* The firm sells information it gathers to advertisers.
* The software can also record your bank username and passwords.