So you have a Blackberry, an IPad, an IPhone, a smartphone?
All your data stored on there?
Have you ever used these machines to gain access to your Bank ?
It should come as no surprise that criminals are also aware that on a balance of probabilities, you access websites where Bank details and passwords are regularly given.
Short of criminals physically stealing your cherished new technology, one would hope that you have passwords protecting your data, however, the criminals also know that.
How then, does the criminal get into your emails ?
Software has been created, which is programmed to worm it’s way into your system via the Internet. It is bad software; Designed to do evil, and is better known as ‘malware’. It is bad software created to steal essential information for the purposes of either stealing your identity, or gaining unauthorised access to your Accounts and other personal essential information which perhaps you thought were safeguarded.
Recently, I received a message from a genuine old School friend of mine, with an attachment which said words to the effect, ‘just looking at an old photo of you and could not stop laughing’.
Now be honest, who would not out of curiosity have opened such an attachment ?
Far more subtle than this, of course, have been innocuous invitations from seemingly innocent people wishing to make contact on LinkedIn. Ask yourself, do you know these people ?
Less subtle, are scantily dressed young females seeking to make contact on LinkedIn. Ask yourself, what attracts them to you in business or otherwise? Hubris aside, do they really want to make contact with you, or is there something more sinister behind the message? Looks can be deceiving. Do they have a website, or attachment attached? Are you curious? Don’t be.
Specifically, the current Worldwide threat is known as ZenuS, or Zeus malware.
All that needs doing, is to click on a new contact or open an attachment, and the malware becomes embedded in your browser, and sets about stealing passwords, dates of birth, personal information.
The end result is that the criminal can transfer funds out of your accounts, or steal your identity.
How do you prevent malware from taking over ? Here are some tips:
1. Ensure your firewall is up to date, and your anti-virus software is current;
2. Do not have one universal password for everything you have access to;
3. Change your passwords regularly;
4. Do not state your full name with middle names;
5. Do not state your entire date of birth. Leave something out like the year, or the month, or jumble some if the data around;
6. Do not leave your computers on day and night;
7. Change log in passwords regularly;
8. Do not open or accept invitations from people you do not know, however attractive or curious you are;
9. If you are not expecting to hear from someone in a long time, think if it really is them contacting you with attachments? When did you last speak or have contact with them? Perhaps contact them from another communication source to check?
David Rosen, is a Solicitor-Advocate, Partner and head of litigation at Darlingtons, London, EC4, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a visiting associate Professor of Law at Brunel University.