Scareware Threat Spreading Across The Internet

Computer security researchers have discover a blackhat search engine optimization that is spreading scareware. The malware has infected over 200,000 computers already and spreading to vulnerable machines. The scareware tells you that your computer is infected with viruses, spyware, malware and trojans.  It then stats that you need to purchase antivirus software for computer security. If you receive a message stating that a computer infection has occurred don’t believe it. Close IE and run your anti-malware or anti-spyware programs to remove the infection. This is all just a scam to get money and credit card numbers.

5 – Vulnerability that lead to Identity Theft

I found this interesting article about identity theft and what are the 5 major ways Identity Theft occurs.  The first one is that people don’t change-up their daily routine.  If people are watching you and your routine doesn’t change they have any easy way into your world.  The next two are ones we have talked about several times in social networking and computer scams.  Part of our guide to social networking is that you should never post sensitive data on you page and make sure your profile is set to private.  Computer and internet scam are running wild all over the internet.  Several computer security experts say that scareware and spyware has grown by over 600% in the last year.  The fourth way is through hackers (internal and external) stealing sensitive information of customers.  We hear stories all the time about credit card companies or financial companies losing customer data.  I wish I could say that is going to slow down in the future but I expect it to actually grow over the next several years.  I also expect that Identity Theft will grow by over 15% in the next and 20% the year after that.  The last method is through Healthcare moving to electronic records.  I agree that in the move to electronic records that we will see more identity or fraud from this activity.  I just wanted to share what the article said are the five vulnerabilities for identity theft and that we have to agree with all of them.  The biggest threats rights now come from the internet and internet scams.  The internet is full of spyware and scareware that is waiting to steal your identity or to harm your computer.

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New Phishing Botnet spreading across the Internet

A new Zbot botnet is infecting computers all across the Internet stating that their computer is infected with the conficker worm and you need to a “system update” to remove it from your computer.  The messages are coming in the form of emails telling you need of a “system update”  and that you need to get the new “cleanup utility.”  When users click on the link they are then infected with the Zues Trojan.  The Zues Trojan is designed to steal financial information from your computer.  If you get an email stating that your computer is infected with conficker or that you need a “system upgrade” don’t click on the link.  You should delete the email immediately.   Remember that they key to internet safety and security is to understand the threats.

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Millions of computer compromised with Fake Security Software

Symantic stated this week that millions of computers are infected with fake security software.  Internet users get a pop-up on there computer telling them they are infected with worms, viruses and other malicious threats.  They tell you that you need to purchase antivirus or computer security software to remove the threats.  People are paying the $50-120 for the computer security software and actually get nothing in return, in fact some actually make your computer less secure.  When you pay the money the code is designed to remove the message and give you security software that isn’t very good or actually isn’t even security software.  It is estimated that these fake messages about computers being infected have been downloaded over 45 millions times and still rising.  This is just a reminder that if you get a message stating that you computer is infected with worms, trojans and other threats this is just a scam and don’t buy anything.  Verify your anti-spyware software is up to date and run a full system scan.  Remember that internet security starts with understanding the threats.

Symantic Article