Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
One Year and 3.7 Billion Phishing Emails Later – Is Your Identity Protected?
Thursday, June 17, 2010 by Bryan Anderson
As the U.S. (and the rest of the world) drifts to a life
saturated with internet activities, a similar movement of malicious schemes will follow. Unfortunately,
like the real world, the developing digital world is not free of
bad-natured users and individuals will continue to find ways to
scam and con their way into others' private lives, using the
information they seize to their advantage.
In an article from Networkworld.com, a study by CPP,
a British identity protection company, shows that cybercriminals
sent 3.7 billion emails over the last 365 days. Of these 3.7
billion, 55% were fake bank emails attempting to mislead users and
steal valuable information like online banking passwords or credit
card numbers.
The article points out that online banking fraud itself has
increased 132% over the last year, while almost half of web users
worry that their personal banking information could be leaked and
used to make illegal purchases online.
Nicole Sanders, an identity fraud expert at CPP, says that
"fraudsters are becoming ever more skilled in their techniques and
tactics... it can be extremely difficult to spot a legitimate email
from a scam."
One area that has seen a significant rise in malicious content
is social networking. In a recent study by Nielsen, the world now spends
about 22% of all their time online using social media, a 66%
increase from a year ago. Social networking is used by three
quarters of all U.S. users, spending an average of 6 hours 35
minutes per month on social media or blog sites, second only to
Australia.
Facebook alone reaches into 62% of users' online time.
Networkword.com points out that over the last year nearly one in
five Brits interviewed had received "phony Facebook messages
claiming to be from friends or family."
According to Mrs. Sanders, an identity acquired through social
media "is as valuable to a thief as a credit card." She and her
company advise web users to keep their personal information safe
and always check sources before giving out details. For example,
banks will never ask for your personal information online, CPP
points out.
Steve Furnell, head of the Centre for Security, Communications
and Network Research at the University of Plymouth, recommends
users make "periodic manual checks to ensure that their antivirus
has downloaded recent signatures." He also notes that when
disclosing personal items, "consider the nature and importance of
the information being asked for."
Similar to experiencing a burglary in real life, the effects of
malicious actions can be devastating. Make sure all your devices -
mobile and desktop - are updated with the latest anti-virus
software and moderate your personal information disclosure over the
internet.
Until Next Time -
Matthew Hymel
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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