A new FBI report warned retailers more computer attacksdesigned to steal credit and debit card data at the point of saleare likely in the near- to mid-term.

“As the [Department of Homeland Security] report suggests, thegrowing popularity of this type of malware, the accessibility ofthe malware on underground forums, the affordability of thesoftware and the huge potential profits to be made from retail POSsystems in the United States make this type offinancially-motivated cyber crime attractive to a wide range ofactors,” the report from the FBI's Cyber Division said. “We believePOS malware crime will continue to grow over the near term despitelaw enforcement and security firms' actions to mitigate it.”

The investigative agency said that it had discovered roughly 20incidents over the past year where software designed to steal cardnumbers had been introduced onto the POS terminals of U.S.retailers. It also indicated in the Jan. 17 report thatprograms designed to perpetrate these thefts have been seen on salein underground criminal forums for $6,000.