Online Safety | Breaking Cybersecurity News | The Hacker News

When Ben Franklin famously wrote, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," he wasn't thinking about cybercrime. Yet, in today's world of phishing, shoulder-surfing, and spyware, his advice is more relevant than ever. Unfortunately, some people will take advantage of any opportunity to rip you off. Just as you take precautions when handling cash, you should be vigilant when using credit or debit cards, whether in person or online. Tips for Protecting Your Account Information and Avoiding Payment Card Scams Prevent Online Intrusions Use updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Only download information from trusted sites, and don't click on pop-up windows or suspicious links in emails. These can be tricks to install spyware, which can record your keystrokes to steal account or other confidential information. Use Secure Websites When purchasing items online, look for safety symbols like the padlock icon in the browser's status bar, an "s" after "http" in the U...

Criminals are posing as IT support staff, calling unsuspecting U.K. internet users to push rogue antivirus software. GetSafeOnline.org reports this as part of their Internet safety week campaign. These scam operations often involve up to 400 people using sales techniques and social engineering to deceive victims. The goal is to obtain credit card information through the sale of rogue antivirus software or gain remote access to the victim's system for future use. Typically, the scam begins with an unexpected call. The caller, pretending to be an IT helpdesk technician, builds rapport with the victim, presenting themselves as trustworthy by using personal information available online. The victim is then questioned about computer problems like slow email or internet browsing. Once the victim admits to an issue, the caller exaggerates the problem and offers a solution for a small fee. The caller might say, "For a small fee, we can install something to fix your system and clean it c...

Attackers are targeting people searching for last-minute Halloween costume ideas, reported CyberDefender on Oct. 29. The Internet security vendor, along with other firms like Blue Coat and BitDefender, warned users about the dangers of searching online for Halloween-related topics. "Popular search terms have always been a target for cyber-criminals," said Achal Khetarpal, director of CyberDefender Research Labs. CyberDefender identified a fake anti-virus Trojan downloader infecting pages related to Halloween costume searches. When users visit these pages, the fake anti-virus installer hijacks the user's web browser and initiates a malicious process, making the PC sluggish and exposing personal data. One form of this attack, identified by Panda Labs, displays a fake video player page and prompts users to download a codec to play the video. "Popular search terms reflect current user interests, making them lucrative targets," Khetarpal explained. Criminals create p...

Canada released its Cybersecurity Strategy this month, emphasizing the immense challenge of protecting government and corporate computer systems. "There is no simple way to detect, identify, and recover from attackers who cannot be seen or heard, who leave no physical evidence behind them, and who hide their tracks through a complex web of compromised computers." The $90 million (Canadian) strategy focuses on three main areas: Secure government systems : The government will implement the necessary structures, tools, and personnel to fulfill its cybersecurity obligations. Create partnerships to secure non-governmental systems : In cooperation with provincial and territorial governments and the private sector, the government will support initiatives to enhance Canada's cyber resiliency, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors. Help Canadians be secure online : The government will provide Canadians with the information they need to protect themselves and the...