|
Home::Identity Theft
Identity Theft Article A Phisher Is Trying To Steal Your Identity!
Author : Lisa Smith
Sooner or later everyone with an email account will receive a phishing attempt from some internet scammer. What is phishing? How can you protect yourself? These are some of the questions this identity theft article will provide, along with some free resources and practical advice on how to protect your online identity. The Anti-Phishing Working Group estimates that 75 million to 150 million phishing emails are sent every day on the internet. Phishing (pronounced fishing), is online identity theft that uses spoof emails, fraudulent websites and crimeware to trick unsuspecting internet users into providing financial data, credit card numbers, social security numbers, account logins and passwords, etc. A spoofed email looks like it is from a legitimate company, usually banks, credit card companies, paypal, ebay, etc. These fraudulent emails look like they are from the real company, and generally try to get you to log into your account through the links in the email. The spoof email may state that there is a problem with your account and if you do not log in and update your information your account may be suspended, restricted, closed, etc. Generally these emails try to convey a sense of urgency; if you dont correct this problem your account will be suspended. Trojans are increasingly being used as a phishing technique according to Sophos, a security firm. The Brizilian police recently arrested a phishing gang of 18 people who stole $37M from online banking accounts. This phishing gang would send out emails that included Trojans. Once a Trojan infects your computer, all internet activity can be monitored and transferred to the phisher. This is a serious threat as you probably wont know that you are infected with a Trojan. According to David Jevans, Chairman of APWG, Attacks can, and are, coming in a variety of other flavors. Instant Messaging, exploited websites, P2P networks, and search engines are all being used to download and run key logging malcode and/or be directed to websites which may contain malcode or be fraudulent. Attackers are also not just interested in username and password access to bank accounts. Social security numbers, credit cards and other identity information are also being stolen. Protecting yourself against phishing scams. Do not give out personal or financial information through an email request. Always log on to your sensitive accounts by opening a new browser and typing the actual URL directly into the address bar. For example, if you receive a suspected phishing email from ebay, open a new browser and type www.ebay.com in the browser bar. Do not click on any link in a suspected phishing email. Only use a secure website to submit sensitive data. A secure sites address will begin with https:// instead of http:// Check the activity of your online accounts regularly. Make sure your browser is up to date and all security patches are installed. Report phishing and spoof email to: reportphishing@antiphishing.com , spam@uce.gov, and forward the email to the company that is being spoofed. Keep your pc protected with updated anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall. You may also want to install anti-phishing software. o Earthlink ScamBlocker is a free browser toolbar that alerts you to known phishing sites. Its free and can be downloaded at www.earthlink.net/earthlinktoolbar. o Webroot has a beta version of PhishNet which you can download at www.webroot.com/products/phishnet/ o PC Tools Spyware Doctor offers protection against known phishing sites, spyware and blocks popups. With the consequences being identity theft, it is imperative that you learn to protect your pc and your identity by exercising caution and installing the proper tools. Hopefully, this identity theft article has given you the information you need to avoid being the next phishing victim. Remember, legitimate companies dont ask for personal or financial information in an email so dont give it to them! Lisa Smith is the webmaster of 1stSpywareRemoval.com This website offers information on spyware, adware, internet safety, indepth reviews, and news. Spam emails More free articles Related articles
|
More related feeds |
Identity Theft and You: TIPS TO AVOID IDENTITY THEFT
The nicer the area you live in, the more ideal a target you make to an identity thief because they assume you have more money for them to steal. 20. COPY ALL OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS AND SAVE THEM IN A FILE AT HOME: By having a copy of the ...Free Identity Theft Protection from Identity Finder
Once found, individuals can use the security tools within Identity Finder to easily protect their personal information against hackers and identity thieves trying to steal their credit cards and other financial assets. ... Bank Merging Scam Seeks to Steal Identities | Content for Reprint
ID thefts in 2007 totaled $49.3 billion dollars - Identity theft has ranked as the top consumer complaint to the FTC for the past five years in a row - It is estimated that victims of Identity Theft lose an average of $5720 per ID theft ... What is Phishing and Dumpster Diving? - Artipot
You must remain vigilant and be aware of the current identity theft scams and methods out there so you know what to look for. One of the most publicized and common ways thieves steal information is through phishing. ... Which Identity Theft Protection Programs is right for you?
In a perfect world, the presents of identity theft protection services would stop identity theft completely; unfortunately scammers develop new, illusive and resourceful ways to steal your identity. Educating yourself on identity theft ... News On the Net: Do I Need To Use an Adware Spyware Uninstaller ...
Spyware and adware on the other hand are more interested in your finances and it is this kind of malware that is responsible for identity theft. Some types of malware will actually work together. Two different ones can team up to ... Fake CNN site from phishing e-mail hides a Trojan -TechChuck
US organisations lost even more sensitive data in a greater number of information security screw-ups last year, according to a new survey. A study by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) calculated that 35 million data records were ... Twitter phishing scam may be spreading | Webware - CNET
by mvtechies January 4, 2009 9:14 PM PST: I have found a new phisher. Name as www.twitteri.com which isnt blocked.! Reply to this comment. by Identity-Theft-Protection January 5, 2009 8:11 AM PST: This is a brilliant scam and will dupe ... Guarding against a data breach - SC Magazine US
For instance, identity theft ‘red flags' just took effect. “The regulators and the FTC released them in final form in November 2007 with a compliance deadline of November 1, 2008,” says BITS' Carlson. “These regulations emanate from the ... Was Stephen Fry fooled by iPhone Twitter phishers?
Compromised social networking accounts are valuable for hackers as they can use them for a springboard for spam campaigns, identity theft attacks and other online crime." Makes a change from the usual fake bank phishing scams or Twitter ...
| | 
