IN THE HEADLINES: How ITAC is Working to Help Protect Consumers from ID Theft
Posted by: ID Guardian Alpha on September 2, 2010
With new technology emerging, financial institutions are facing a growing number of privacy concerns for consumers and the institutions themselves.
In this interview on bankinfosecurity.com with Anne Wallace, president of the Identity Theft Assistance Center, Wallace discusses:
- How banking institutions can better protect and educate consumers about identity theft;
- Why it is so critical to implement tools and practices that help consumers and institutions detect potential breaches that could compromise identity;
- Why institutions must stay ahead of fraud risks associated with emerging technology, such as mobile banking and social networking.
IN THE HEADLINES: How to Get Nuked in a Drive-by Download
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on September 2, 2010
A security expert just revealed that as many as five million web sites hosted by Network Solutions, one of the biggest registrars of domain names and host to millions of personal and small business web sites, may have been serving up drive-by downloads, possibly for years.
A drive-by download is more accurately a “surf-by” download, where hackers infiltrate a web site or web hosting company, and will load the web pages up with malicious code like Trojans that will automatically infect the computer of any visitor to that site.
According to the expert that discovered the mass infection (which Network Solutions so far denies) “This is one of the biggest infections for drive-by download attacks that I’ve seen.” Continue reading this post »
IN THE HEADLINES: How to Make $1 Million (without really trying…)
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on September 1, 2010
It’s got to be one of the easiest scams around. Invest a few hundred dollars in creating a slick web site offering dozens, if not hundreds of beautiful vacation villas for rent around the world.
Load it with enticing images of immaculately furnished interiors and stunning views, with a supporting cast of glowing testimonials, and top it off with irresistible knock-down prices that no one can resist.
Then sit back and watch the money roll in, as thousands of eager holiday makers and bargain hunters pay you hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits for a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a villa vacation of their dreams.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is. Of course, the villas don’t exist. Or if they do, they’re either not for rent or are not being rented by the charming individual who placed the ads. Continue reading this post »
IN THE HEADLINES: Is Your Cell Phone Really Your Friend?
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on August 31, 2010
It’s estimated that more than 85% of US consumer have a cell phone, and increasingly those cell phones are smart phones. But just because your phone is smart, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s smart enough to be secure.
There are more than a dozen ways your smart phone, and any other cell phone, can expose you to risks, and here’s a small sample:
Wi-Fi – One of the great advantages of my iPhone is that it can detect nearby Wi-Fi networks that might allow me to piggy-back for free on a faster data network. But that can open the door very wide to hackers and unscrupulous network operators who can use that Wi-Fi access to access your phone, online bank accounts, and credit card payments. Continue reading this post »
GAME ON, SHIELDS UP: Avoiding Identity Theft in Online Gaming
Posted by: Matt Sarrel on August 30, 2010
It’s that time of year again when thoughts turn to the less-than-exciting and impending return to the grind of school and homework. While our bodies are fully engaged in sunshine and playing outside, we’ll soon be engulfed in the busy worlds of academics, sports, and social life. And video games. Whether you turn to Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, your PC, or even your PSP, DS or iPhone, try not to allow the transition into the make-believe game world suspend your otherwise attentive and security oriented mind. Yes, we’ve reached the point where games are no longer innocuous entertainment and in some cases have become the gateway to fraud.
IS THIS FOR REAL?
The short answer is “heck yeah” and the long answer is “and it is getting worse”. Continue reading this post »
IN THE HEADLINES: “Sextortion” — a New Threat for Your Kids
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on August 27, 2010
I recently read a report that that digital camera will soon be a thing of the past, because soon a camera will be a standard feature in most cell phones – if we’re not already there.
And while that’s great news for people who like the convenience of always having a camera in their pocket, it doesn’t come without risks. And one of the growing risks your kids may face is what’s being dubbed by the media as “sextortion.”
Kids will often do risky things with their phones (like texting while driving), and when you add a camera to the mix kids may be tempted to go one step further and use that camera to snap and share inappropriate photos of themselves. Continue reading this post »
IN THE HEADLINES: Are Consumers THAT WORRIED about Online Security?
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on August 26, 2010
The Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego recently announced the findings of a study it conducted into how worried consumers are about the security of online transactions. Here are some of their findings:
- 87% of respondents expressed significant concern about having their credit card information stolen or having merchants lose personal and financial information in a data breach.
- 81% of respondents cited phishing emails as a significant concern.
- 80% of respondents expressed significant concern over having their passwords stolen.
- 77% of respondents were concerned about receiving SPAM emails.
The study went on to ask consumers what steps they take to protect themselves: Continue reading this post »
IN THE HEADLINES: Cybercrooks Getting Younger, but Not Smarter
Posted by: Neal OFarrell on August 25, 2010
Two eighteen-year-olds appeared in a British court in early August accused of running their own online black market in everything an identity thief would need to own your identity. And they might still be running it today, unchallenged, if they hadn’t made so many blundering mistakes.
The two teens, along with some other accomplices, were accused of operating an online criminal forum called GhostMarket.net. Members of that forum, 8,000 strong at the time of the bust, were able to share and sell all kinds of hacker goodies, including stolen credit card numbers and compromised bank accounts, along with toolkits to create data stealing malware like Trojans.
The forum even operated its own School for Scoundrels, with tutorials on everything from creating elaborate phishing scams to hacking into web sites. Continue reading this post »
While being a victim of identity theft is likely to change your perspective and habits,the worst time for you to learn about the importance of security is after you’ve become a victim.
Same goes for your computer. One of the most common threats and most popular attacks focuses on planting malicious software on your computer, without your permission and beyond your control.
Security firm Panda recently released a list of the Top 10 tell-tale signs that your computer may be infected:
IN THE HEADLINES: Intersections SVP of Operations Andy Gerry on Kids and Identity Theft
Posted by: ID Guardian on August 23, 2010
From our home office of Intersections Inc, Senior Vice President of Operations Andy Gerry was recently featured on NBC as part of a national media piece discussing kids and identity theft. Take a look at this in-depth piece of a topic that we at ID Guardian are watching closely and continuing to report and comment on to you.
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook