FireEye details email security threat that appears to help hackers play the markets

The cybersecurity company FireEye says it has unearthed a team of email intruders that snoop through the emails of company executives who may possess market-moving information.

FireEye says the team has carried out attacks against nearly 100 publicly traded companies or their advisory firms in possible attempts to play the stock market. Most of the targets are health care or pharmaceutical companies.

FireEye has labeled the group FIN4 and says it focuses on capturing usernames and passwords to email accounts, which gives the group access to private email correspondence. The group does not use malware, which helps it evade detection.

FireEye Inc. said Monday the group has been operating since at least the middle of last year. It did not identify FIN4's targets.