Hackers are now using USB storages devices to steal information from unsuspecting computer users. This is happening even though email is the hackers mode of choice.

Industry commentator Andy Patrizio claims that many criminals are revert to older methods of infecting machines with viruses.

He talk about the history in which crooks used floppy disks to spread the virus and now they are reverting to those methods once again.

"When a removable media like a thumb drive or CD-ROM are placed in a computer’s USB port or optical drive, respectively, a program can be automatically executed through the autorun.inf file," Mr Patrizio added.

Last month, the Independent commented that the malware writers and anti-virus software producers are inspiring each other to create programs of ever increasing sophistication. It is like a virus in the body getting stronger because of multiple clashes with an antibiotic.

It described the web as the "new Wild West" and warned that computer criminals are using products such as digital cameras as well as other USB storage devices to spread their infection.

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