It’s the Holiday Season, and you know what that means… at Computer Protection News

It’s the Holiday Season, and you know what that means…

Published December 8th, 2007 in Identity Theft

Yup, it’s that season again where hackers and cyber criminals shine. From spreading malware to phishing and pharming tactics, you really need to keep alert during this season. While you should always be alert when entering sensitive information online like credit cards and usernames/passwords, criminals really put forth extra effort during this season knowing that online spending spikes. That being said, make sure you use a safe browser like FireFox, make sure your browser is updated, and whenever you are about to spend money online, make sure the site is secure (look for the padlock in the bottom corner). Also, if you ever enter a site that has an IP address (###.###.###.###) or /cgi-bin in the address bar, chances are it’s a phishing site, so beware.

Regular Internet spyware software may not be enough to protect computer users from the growing number of cyber criminals who steal information and identities.

According to Internet security company McAfee’s annual report, about 120 countries are developing technology to use the Internet as a weapon to disrupt the world’s financial markets and government computer systems.

McAfee said the “cyber cold war” could be one of the biggest threats to global security in the next decade.

Terry Arnold of Stevens Point, an Internet security advocate with a home-based computer security business called Invisus Direct, said the gloom and doom is not being exaggerated.

The problem is computer hackers are always one step ahead of security software designed to thwart them, he said. And with more people shopping and using personal information online, it has only increased the market for hackers.

“It’s a very profitable business,” Arnold said. “People are willing to pay big for this information. Personal computer owners are very much at risk. The hackers are always looking for new platforms to spread mayhem.”

It’s not just credit cards numbers the hackers are after.[more]