Source code leaked for pricey ZeuS crimeware kit

Source code for the latest version of the ZeuS crimeware kit has been leaked on the internet, giving anyone who knows where to look free access to a potent set of malware-generation tools that normally sell for as much as $10,000.

Complete source code is available in at least three different locations, ensuring that it is now permanently available to the masses, Peter Kruse, a researcher with Danish firm CSIS Security, told The Reg. While the release could erode the paid market for the DIY malware kit, it could also spawn entire new kits that clone the existing code and build new features or services on top of it.

“The source code has until now been shared in very closed communities or bought by criminals with significant funds,” Kruse wrote in an email. “With the release of the entire code it's obvious we will see new versions/rebrands or improvements in general. If this grows outside of the established underground ecosystem it could have a significant impact.”