Recession is in the minds of people all over the globe, as market values tumble and panic sets in. But there is one group that won’t be participating in this recession: online criminals.
Organized crime now controls more computing power than any government on earth, through vast armies of zombie computers, all programmed by and under the command of these crime lords.
The ability to send out billions of scam emails is one example of this computing power.
In the current financial crisis failing banks are being acquired by larger, healthier institutions. Criminals were quick to see the opportunity, and have mounted new phishing scams related to these takeovers.
Here’s an alert that I received today from the company that protects my computer.
Phishing scams may appear as requests for users to verify personal and bank account information, enroll in additional bank services, or activate new security features. The email messages may contain a link that, when clicked, will take the user to a fraudulent web site that appears to be a legitimate bank web site. The users may be asked to provide personal information that can further expose them to future compromises. Additionally, these fraudulent web sites may contain malicious code giving complete control of your computer to hackers.
You may think that you’d never fall for one of these scams, and I hope you’re right. But these scam artists a very clever. An email will have the bank’s actual logo, the message may be well written and plausible, and include a link with the bank’s real name, but that link is fake and it will take you to a fake website.
Always remember, banks do not ask their customers for account numbers or other information. They already have it!
My security service provider is INVISUS Direct. Here’s what it recommends to keep safe from cyber-crime:
- Make sure your computer is updated and scanned regularly (as scheduled or done manually) with the INVISUS security suite.
- Ensure that your Windows desktop protection is current by going to Windows Update. Confirm that you have an updated antivirus software program running on your PC.
- Don’t click links or call telephone numbers included in suspect messages. Instead, contact the bank directly by using phone numbers or addresses listed in published directories.
- Don’t open e-mail attachments. In particular, e-mail attachments with “.scr,” “.com” and “.exe” file extensions are likely malicious.
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