U.S. Official: Cybersecurity Plans Not Just Talk
InternetNews.com – 7/01/09
Amid all the recent talk in Washington about getting serious about cybersecurity, some skeptics have expressed concern that it might be just that -- all talk, followed by little action. But a senior White House official this morning official promised an audience of security professionals that unlike past federal reviews, which have been criticized for making promises that policymakers didn't keep, this time is different. read more »

New identity theft scam targets Chase customers
Poughkeepsiejournal.com – 7/01/09
Chase customers could be the target of an e-mail scam that solicits their personal information for false security measures. The New York State Consumer Protection Board warns that the e-mail appears to look like it's from Chase, but consumers should not respond. read more »

PayPal techies hit fraudsters where it hurts
Silicon.com – 6/30/09
Levels of fraud have fallen at online payment provider PayPal thanks to cybercrime detection and prevention technologies. Fraudulent transactions accounted for 0.28 per cent of the value of all payments using PayPal in 2008... read more »

‘Twittersblogs’ the Latest Phishing Scam to Hit Twitter
Switched – 6/30/09
Social networking sites Twitter and Facebook have become popular hunting grounds for scammers, as updates and instant messages provide easy methods of attracting prey. A new phishing scheme has emerged this week, similar to previous Twitter and Facebook phishing scams, that incorporates direct messages with phony links. read more »

FTC settles with “scareware” defendant for $1.9 million
SC Magazine – 6/29/09
A Cincinnati man has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle charges with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for his involvement in a scheme that tricked more than one million individuals into buying rogue anti-virus products. read more »

Twitter Gains Upper Hand on Latest Scam
PC World – 6/29/09
Sometimes, it seems scams are becoming almost as common as social media experts on Twitter. The latest one, unleashed Monday morning and initially noticed by tech blog Mashable, centers on a fake blog hosted at the domain twittersblogs.com. Tweets containing links to the site circulated rapidly, each featuring the message: "omg!! is it true what they wrote about you in their twit blog?" read more »

BBB warns of loan scam
The Business Journal – 6/26/09
The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning to consumers that a company claiming to be located in Winston-Salem offering loans to credit-challenged consumers is a scam. According to the BBB... read more »

Safeguarding your e-mail account – Not just for governors
Examiner.com – 6/26/09
Here are some basic rules for securing your work and personal email account that are not always followed: 1 – Use a strong password. 2 - ... read more »

Don’t Get Tricked by Fake Microsoft Update E-mails
PC World – 6/25/09
I do not know about you, but for the past couple of days my inbox has received several e-mails claiming to be from Microsoft while touting links to updates for Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. :>) Naturally, I clicked on those links right-away and installed me some updates (not). read more »

UK looks to young geeks to secure cybersace
BusinessWeek – 6/25/09
Britain is hiring former computer hackers to join a new security unit aimed at protecting cyberspace from foreign spies, thieves and terrorists, the country's terrorism minister said. read more »

Avoid New Spam/Phishing Attacks
About.com – 6/24/09
There are a couple of new spam / phishing attacks which have been successful at circumventing my Junkmail filter and making it to my Inbox. One is titled 'Statement Request' and the other is titled 'Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Outlook' or sometimes 'Critical Update for Microsoft Outlook'. read more »

Hacker threats underestimated: expert
Canada.com – 6/24/09
Cyber attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and targeted, and their threat is underestimated, according to a former top U.S. cyber-security official. "These are not hypothetical teenage hackers from New Hampshire," said Amit Yoran, former director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's national cyber-security division. "This is a very real threat environment, where... read more »

Cyber crime hubs to fight net gangs
Press Association – 6/24/09
Regional cyber crime hubs may soon lead the fight against sophisticated criminal gangs who use the internet to steal millions of pounds every year. The key units will be distributed across Britain in a similar way to counter terrorism teams in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and London. read more »

Spotting the Antivirus Rogue
InfoWorld – 6/23/09
Fake antivirus programs have become a favorite bad-guy scam for worming into your wallet, with a plethora of false reports of malware infections meant to scare the unsuspecting into shelling out $50 for worthless software. To help identify whether a pop-up or other warning is real, or whether it might have come from one of the many, many fake scams,... read more »

Guilty plea for Detroit “spam king”
SC Magazine – 6/23/09
Five individuals pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Detroit for their roles in an international spam operation that sent billions of emails to tout Chinese "penny" stocks and used a botnet capable of evading spam detection. read more »

South Bend Police Warn About Email Scam
WSBT.com – 6/22/09
Police are warning area residents about an email scam that has resulted in a “flurry of telephone inquiries” to their department. An email is circulating that looks to be from DHL Worldwide Delivery, according to Capt. Phil Trent. The email indicates a package containing $250,000 in U.S. currency is awaiting delivery to the recipient. All that is needed is $150 and your address and phone number, according to the email. read more »

Don’t Give Your E-mail Address and Password to Other Web Sites
LifeHacker.com – 6/22/09
From the no-kidding files: The New York Times discusses a neither new nor uncommon practice employed by less reputable web sites that ask for your email address and password, then spam everyone in your contact list. read more »

Buyer beware! How to avoid online retail crooks
Examiner.com – 6/22/09
With the growth of the Internet as a business place, many new companies have sprung up in recent years. However, it should be noted that not all online retailers are reputable. Some offer top notch service and products while others exist to take advantage of unwary buyers. read more »

Hood Warns of Internet Scam
WTOK.com – 6/18/09
Officials say the scam works like this: an attorney/law firm receives an email referral from someone saying that they have a collection matter or contract dispute and need a local attorney to handle. They will establish a relationship and... read more »

Sites Charge For Free Government Job Information
TheDenverChannel.com – 6/18/09
In a time when many people are searching for jobs, the Internet is full of scam artists hoping you will pay for employment information from the government that is already available for free. read more »

Prevent malware from spreading by e-mail links and attachments
Tech Republic – 6/17/09
On many occasions, I mentioned that Web sites with embedded drive-by droppers were the malware-distribution method of choice. I may have been wrong in that assessment. It seems that e-mail as a malware delivery vehicle is getting a second wind. read more »

More people pick Facebook over Myspace but the criminals don’t care
The Tech Herald – 6/17/09
According to CA, another variant of Koobface is hitting not just Facebook and MySpace, but Hi5, Bebo, Friendster, Fubar.com, Tagged.com, and MyYearbook.com. This new incarnation of the Worm that has plagued the social networking scene for the better part of the year, will start its Spam run by connecting to upr15may [dot] com. read more »

Social networking like the guy from Nigeria
The Business Journal – 6/16/09
I opened the email that said I had "won 35 MILLION DOLLARS" (yes, the email used all caps for that screaming at me effect!). It was about a lost bank account and they just wanted me -- because I'm an honest person, of course -- to help them transfer it to my bank account. It was signed by some important-sounding guy with a fancy title in Nigeria. Now I'm seeing similar behavior on Social Networking sites. read more »

Beware of ‘Swan Flu’ and Other Common Misspellings
Switched – 6/16/09
Yahoo! buzz editor Vera Chan spoke to USAToday.com about the most misspelled search engine terms, putting 'Brack Obama,' 'Swan Flu,' and 'Paperview boxing' (our personal favorite) at the top of the list. Trends and breaking news, she said, obviously contribute to the misspellings, but the worst typos occur when searchers look for other sites, including 'Gogle' and 'utube.' read more »

Lawmaker: Power Grid Vulnerable to Cyberattack
InformationWeek – 6/15/09
Hackers have already penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and have stolen intellectual property, corporate secrets and money. In one incident, a bank lost $10 million in cash in a day, according Shawn Henry of the FBI's cybercrime unit. read more »

Identity theft – wise up with prevention
Examnier.com – 6/15/09
Identity theft cannot be completely prevented. However, there are some preventive steps that one can take to lower the chances of becoming a victim. read more »

A New Approach To Online Security
redOrbit.com – 6/15/09
Could an entirely new approach to online security, based on distributed sanctions, help prevent cybercrime, fraud and identity theft? A report in the International Journal of Intercultural Information Management suggests it could. read more »

Online scam targets the lonely
The Gazette – 6/15/2009
You are being conned. Do not, I repeat, do not ever send any money to anyone who contacts you internationally by email requesting money in exchange for companionship. There are plenty of legitimate dating sites and lots of other ways to meet women. Nothing may have clicked for you but don't let your discouragement, frustration and loneliness make you an easy target for these types of scams. Hit delete and move on. read more »

Security Will Always Be a Headache
ITWorld.com – 6/11/09
I wrote last month about Security Risks on Your Macintosh. I'm going to reference another report that explains how Apple's approach to security leaves quite a bit to be desired. Before that, however, I want to say this isn't potshots at Apple or Microsoft or anyone. Well, maybe we should take shots at the criminals creating malware and stealing information. But until computers and their users are 100 percent secure, there will be ways for criminals to make money. That's why security will always be a headache. read more »

#Twitter: is that a bot following you?
InternetNews.com – 6/11/09
Bots on twitter may be somewhat easy to identify -- they use pornographic images for photos and jumbled letters and numbers for names -- but blocking them one by one is still a pain. The spammers jump on these topics and post scary notes next to the key word. Bots are following each other, creating pools of influence. Click on the list of followers of an obvious malware-spewing bot an you'll find a bunch of images that are Not Safe For Work (NSFW). read more »

Spear-Phishing Gang Resurfaces, Nets Big Catch
The Washington Post – 6/11/09
A prolific phishing gang known for using sophisticated and targeted e-mail attacks to siphon cash from small to mid-sized business bank accounts appears to be back in operation after more than a 5-month hiatus, security experts warn. read more »

Police warn about social networking site crimes
WTOCTV.com – 6/05/09
Persons who use networking sites like MySpace, FaceBook and Twitter often update their sites with their personal information. Persons using the sites often advise they are going out of town and further update their sites while out of town. Criminals are using this information read more »

School safety and soundness – What about cyber security events?
ITWorld.com – 6/05/09
Most school districts state that their mission is to provide students in the community with educational opportunities in a safe environment. read more »

DHS fills National Cybersecurity Center post
InternetSecurity.com – 6/4/2009
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed former Microsoft executive Philip Reitinger as director of the National Cybersecurity Center. read more »

Colleges give themselves C+ for network security
NetworkWorld.com – 6/03/09
Colleges give themselves modest marks in network security and fear malware the most among a long list of potential threats, according to a survey of university technology executives. read more »

Microsoft Outlook Reconfiguration Malware In The Wild
MXLogic.com – 6/03/09
The MX Logic Threat Operations Center has observed a new type of malware in the wild being sent out as an email posing as a reconfiguration notification for Microsoft Outlook. The message subject is "Outlook Setup Notification" and contains the following text within the message body: read more »

E-mail Scam Alert
CBS6.com – 6/03/09
The National White Collar Crime Center is warning Virginians about a new email scam. It targets you with claims of getting a half-priced car from Ford. Below is a Press Release on the e-mail scam: FORD CARS FOR HALF PRICE? DON'T BUY IT! read more »

MP falls to Facebook hack attack
VNUNet.com – 6/2/2009
A UK member of parliament has admitted to having his Facebook account hijacked. Lichfield Conservative Michael Fabricant said last week that his account was taken over and used to send spam messages to some 1,500 users on the MP's friend list. read more »

Dallas IRS alerts taxpayers to email scam
Dallas Morning News – 6/2/2009
I recently got an email alerting me that I had some unclaimed money in an IRS account. Wow, that sounded too good to be true. And, in fact, it was. read more »

Email: An open door to sophisticated security threats
SC Magazine – 6/1/09
Email was once a straightforward vehicle that, contrary to design, became a vector for viruses, trojans and spam. etc. Now, of course, it's a virtual open door exploited by individuals, organized groups of malware authors and cybercriminals to deliver sophisticated and stealthy security threats, which take up residency on desktops and establish extensive strongholds on corporate networks. read more »

Why do people write viruses?
Yahoo! Tech – 6/1/09
Every time reports of a big new virus or other malware attack hits, my inbox is flooded with the same question, usually seething with vitriol: Why do people write viruses? I answer as succinctly as I can, but the question is a deep and complex one. Why do people burglarize homes? Why do people tag buildings with graffiti? Why do they post anonymous hatred on online message boards? read more »

Mothers Against Predators founders urges Web safety
SunSentinel.com – 5/28/09
Jaemi Levine, Coral Springs resident and founder of Mothers Against Predators, is not among those who believe that keeping the computer in a public space is enough to ensure the online safety of children. read more »

Tips on Protecting Yourself From Check Scams
North America Press Syndicate – 5/28/09
No one can really afford to lose money-ever. But that's exactly what will happen if you fall for a fake check scam. Here's how it works: read more »

ALERT: Beware of Mystery Shopper Scam
KSLA – 5/28/09
A Kennett, Missouri woman says she almost got taken in by scam artists and she blames the tough economy. read more »

CyberCrime classes ramp up efforts against child predators
NewsJacksonville.com – 5/27/09
To combat the rise of these Internet criminals, Stop Child Predators met with the attorney general's CyberCrime unit in Jacksonville to discuss this summer's safety awareness campaign. read more »

U.S. Review of Cybersecurity Policies Due Friday
About.com – 5/27/09
On Friday, President Obama is expected to release the results of a 60-day review of U.S. cyber security policy. The review was performed by Melissa Hathaway, interim White House cyber security adviser and a former Bush administration official. read more »

Online shopping warning
WAVY – 5/26/09
Many of us shop online and would like to think we're pretty savvy on the internet, but with so many scams out there you need to be careful where you shop. read more »

Facebook sued by user over virus
CNET News – 5/26/09
Facebook breached a "legal duty to exercise at least reasonable care with regard to the safety of its network" on May 14 when it failed to properly contain a virus that spread across the social network, the lawsuit alleges. Karantsalis claims his account was compromised and temporarily disabled and that his photos and friends were not restored. read more »

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States
Examiner.com – 5/22/09
Over 10 million Americans have been the victims of identity theft costing them approximately $5 billion dollars if not more. That figure will only increase. There are ways to prevent identity theft if you understand which information thieves will attempt to obtain. read more »

Scams: They just never seem to stop popping up
NovaNowNews.com – 5/20/09
Telephone scams, phone scams, email scams, they just never stop and you really need to be on high security outlook for them. Especially now, as scams today are looking more and more legitimate and the con artists behind them are certainly clever. But, once you start to dissect them there are usually some tell tail signs that can alert you to a scam. read more »

Protect yourself from identity theft
Sun-Sentinel – 5/20/09
To protect yourself from identity fraud Shred financial documents and paperwork containing personal information before you discard them. read more »

Scammers Target Apartment Seekers
My Fox Houston – 5/19/09
The Federal Trade Commission wants to warn consumers of a rental scam involving long-distance renting-- rentals found from online bulletin board websites. Scammers are hi-jacking real rental listing by changing the contact information then moving the modified listing to another site. read more »

ISPs need more oversight and regulation
Computerworld – 5/19/09
The Internet service provider industry is a rats and mice business that needs greater regulation and oversight said Alastair MacGibbon, former director of trust and safety at eBay, and prior to that, the former director of the High Tech Crime Centre. read more »

“Chain of Trust” initiative launched to fight malware
SC Magazine – 5/19/09
The Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), and StopBadware.org announced their collaboration, known as the Chain of Trust Initiative, Tuesday at the ASC workshop in Washington. read more »

Wimad Malware: Free Music is Too Good to be True
PCMag.com – 5/18/2009
Looking to tell a moral in addition to issuing a warning, Microsoft's Malware Protection Center has put out a blog on the Wimad family of malware, which they say is one of the top families of malware that they detect in the wild, behind Vundo, Zango stuff, Zlob and Renos. read more »

Waging war on cyber threats
Help Net Security – 5/18/2009
The Obama Administration did what many in the political and national security arenas have been advocating for some time – make Cybersecurity its own Department of Defense command on par with Central Command, the organization led by U.S. Army General David Petraeus in charge of all military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. read more »

Ford customers, beware of e-mail hoax
Freep.com – 5/14/2009
Ford Motor Co. customers are being targeted with a hoax e-mail scam similar to the infamous Nigerian banking hoax emails. The email, which appears to come from a Ford sales manager, says the company is able to offer customers a hybrid version of a Ford Fusion for $15,500, which is less than the market price, because, “The United States Government has given us the opportunity to bounce back on our feet,” and instructs those interested to fill out an application. read more »

151.im: Yet another Facebook malware-worm-virus-bug-phishing attack
The Los Angeles Times – 5/14/2009
The Facebook bugs just keep on swarming. If the combination of my Facebook inbox and Twitter chatter is any indication, there's yet another bug (or whatever you want to call it) floating around on the social networking site. It's not recent nasty bug Koobface, it's not mygener.im and, as far as I can tell, it's not even Boface.BJ. This time the link, which in my case came in messages titled "Hello," leads to sites with names like 151.im and 121.im. read more »

Global phishing survey: Trends and domain name use
Help Net Security – 5/14/2009
Phishers are constantly experimenting, looking for better ways to defraud Internet users and reap more money from their crimes. The second half of 2008 found phishers adopting new strategies and tactics. To combat phishing, we seek to better understand how they are using domain names, and why. read more »

Alert: Pet-buying scam at Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta Business Chronicle – 5/13/2009
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials want the public to be aware of a pet scam involving bogus purchases and false claims that animals are being detained at the airport. The pet scam involves online ads or unsolicited e-mails that offer to sell and ship pets -- such as puppies, birds and monkeys -- from overseas. read more »

Security experts warn of possible ID theft scam on Twitter
MXLogic.com – 5/13/2009
The Twitter "porn name game" may be a ruse to get people to unintentionally reveal their security questions for remembering their passwords. Web security pros said this could leave users susceptible to identity theft or fraud. read more »

Beware e-mail in the name of U.S. Customs
The Morning Call – 5/13/2009
The scam: Here is a report from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, which would seem to have enough on its plate these days -- not that scammers care. According to the agency, spam e-mail is circulating that tries to fool consumers using the agency's name. read more »

As hacking hits home, China strengthens cyber laws
ITWorld.com – 5/12/2009
"China has made significant progress in cybercrime legislation and is putting in great efforts to strengthen it," said Man Qi, one of the paper's co-authors, in an e-mail interview. read more »

Hackers breach UC Berkley computer database
USA Today – 5/8/2009
University of California, Berkeley, officials said Friday that hackers infiltrated restricted computer databases, putting at risk health and other personal information on 160,000 students, alumni and others. read more »

Microsoft plans to patch PowerPoint flaw
VNUNET.com – 5/8/2009
Microsoft is preparing to issue a patch for a security vulnerability that has plagued users since early last month. The vulnerability lies in a component of PowerPoint and, when exploited, can allow an attacker to remotely install malware on the targeted system. read more »

Hackers Want Millions For Data on Prescription
The Washington Post – 5/8/2009
The FBI and Virginia State Police are searching for hackers who demanded that the state pay them a $10 million ransom by Thursday for the return of millions of personal pharmaceutical records they say they stole from the state's prescription drug database. The hackers claim to have accessed 8 million patient records and 35 million prescriptions collected by the Prescription Monitoring Program. read more »

Mygener.im bug spreads on Facebook
Los Angeles Times – 5/7/2009
Facebook users are receiving messages from friends today that ask them to visit the website, mygener.im. The site is marked as malicious in most modern browsers, so curious wanderers will receive a warning when attempting to visit the link. read more »

Ransom-ware is back
Online Security Guide – 5/5/2009
Ransom-ware is a computer malware which sorts of kidnaps or holds a user’s computer files even system, turn it into a hostage and then demands a ransom for a fix. read more »

Red tape keeps Conficker on medical devices
ZDNet – 5/5/2009
The Conficker Internet virus has infected important computerized medical devices, but governmental red tape interfered with their repair, an organizer of an anti-virus working group told Congress on Friday. read more »

Leaked copies of Windows 7 RC contain Trojan
Networkworld – 5/4/2009
Pirated copies of Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) on file-sharing sites contain malware, according to users who have downloaded the upgrade. read more »

Solutions: Spyware can make icons disappear from your desktop
Tampabay.com – 5/4/2009
We are running Windows XP. For some reason, we lost all of our desktop icons. Is there a way to retrieve them? read more »

Botnet probe turns up 70G bytes of personal, financial data
ITWorld.com – 5/4/2009
Researchers from the University of California gained control over a well-known and powerful network of hacked computers for 10 days, gaining insight into how it steals personal and financial data. read more »

Businesses Need Cybersecurity Supports, Congress Told
PC World – 5/3/2009
The U.S. Congress should look to provide incentives for private businesses to adopt stronger cybersecurity practices instead of creating new mandates, one information security expert told a congressional subcommittee last week. read more »

Facebook fights phishing attacks with new security partner
MXLogic – 5/1/2009
Facebook threat analyst Ryan McGeehan said the company takes a proactive approach to fighting spam phishing attacks on the website and announced facebook had hired an anti virus security firm to upgrade security at the website, eWeek reported. read more »

Facebook Fights Second Phishing Attack
InternetNews.com – 4/30/2009, By Michelle Megna
Facebook early today suffered its second phishing attack in 24 hours, but the social networking site took swift action to resolve the matter. Yesterday, attackers worked to lure Facebook members to FBAction.net, a site displaying a bogus Facebook login page that hijacked users' accounts. Today, a second attack appeared, this time using fbstarter.com. read more »

Internet Scams On The Rise
KOMU – 4/30/2009
Online services like banking and shopping can be helpful, but sometimes it can be helpful for the wrong kind of people like internet scammers. read more »

Lottery, IRS scams on the rise, police say
News-Record.com - 4/30/2009
Police are reminding residents to remain on high alert and use sound judgement following a recent increase in reports of mail and Internet scams in the Triad. One of the major scams that is increasingly targeting elderly residents are lottery scams — where they will receive a letter and an authentic-looking check in the mail telling them they have won a lottery. read more »

County warns of phishing scams
Del Mar Times – 4/30/2009
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office is warning consumers about a deceptive Web site currently posing as a government site for the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). read more »

Report: US cyber warfare needs oversight, debate
KATU – 4/30/2009
Shrouded in secrecy, the U.S. government's policies on how and when to wage cyber warfare are ill-formed, lack adequate oversight and require a broad public debate, a new report by the National Research Council says. read more »

Adults get lessons on how to prevent cyberbullying
WTOP – 4/29/2009
Every Maryland Board of Education is required by law to come up with plans and policies on cyberbullying. However, Maryland lawmakers still heard cries from mothers about the impact it has on their children. read more »

Adults get lessons on how to prevent cyberbullying
WTOP – 4/29/2009
Every Maryland Board of Education is required by law to come up with plans and policies on cyberbullying. However, Maryland lawmakers still heard cries from mothers about the impact it has on their children. learn how »

‘Scareware’ has us feeling vulnerable
The News & Observer – 4/29/09
Isn't it amazing how long it can take a Web page to load? We used to blame this on slow connections, but these days the number of add-ons, images, advertising, and links simply overwhelms the content we're after, causing what should have been a quick jaunt across the Web to turn into a weary slog. learn how »

Identity theft targets unemployed workers
Chicago Tribune – 4/29/09
The scams run the gamut from fake help-wanted ads and job-search services to bogus résumé-posting Web sites, part of a new arsenal of weapons targeting millions of recently unemployed people. learn how »

Spam From Hijacked Webmail Accounts
The Washington Post – 4/29/09
A family member called last night, upset and embarrassed that his yahoo.com account was used to blast out spam to all of his contacts. A quick examination of the message headers indicated the spam was indeed sent through his yahoo.com account, and that someone had hijacked his Webmail account password. learn how »

Adobe Warns of Potential Reade Flaw
The Washington Post – 4/28/09
Adobe Systems Inc. is warning about a potential new security flaw in the latest versions of its Adobe Reader products. In its product security incident response team blog, Adobe issued a brief advisory on Monday, saying it is investigating reports of a security hole in Adobe Reader 9.1 and 8.1.4. The company says it will provide an update once it gets more information. learn how »

WVa Bar Says international network, Web site hacked
WVGazzete.com – 4/28/09
The West Virginia State Bar is warning members of potential identity theft after someone hacked into the organization's Web site and internal computer network. learn how »

Beware of Swine flu email scam
WPRI – 4/27/2009, By Melissa Sardelli
Computer users beware of a Swine flu email scam. The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team or US-CERT is alerting computers users about a cyber scam. US-CERT says the cyber attacks arrive through an unsolicated email message that usually contains a subject related to the Swine flu. The emails contain a link or attachment that may be directed to a phishing website. learn how »

How scared should you be about security statistics
CIO – 4/27/09
Did you know the number of crimeware-spreading Web sites infecting PCs with password-stealing crimeware reached an all-time high of 31,173 in December, according to the APWG (formerly Anti-Phishing Working Group) coalition. learn how »

Bank phishing fraudsters learn to spell
Silicon.com – 4/23/09
Phishers aiming to defraud banks have raised their game - and at the very least have learned to spell - according to the banking executives tasked with stopping them. learn how »

Government, military officials at RSA warn of cyber-threats
Networkworld – 4/22/09
The U.S. government faces huge challenges both combating cybercrime and improving military cyber-defense capabilities, but progress is being made, according to officials speaking at the RSA Conference. learn how »

Hackers infect 1.9 million PCs
USA Today – 4/21/09
A massive botnet comprised of 1.9 million infected PCs is being controlled by a gang of six in the Ukraine, security firm Finjan divulged at the RSA security conference here in San Francisco. And this botnet has nothing to do with the headline grabbing Conficker worm. It was assembled the tried-and-true way: drive-by downloads. learn how »

Wal-Mart scam sweeps the web
14WFIE.com – 4/21/2009
The latest scam to sweep the web world involves a Wal-Mart survey emailed to your personal account. If you fill it out, the email claims you will receive $150. However, the Better Business Bureau said don't open it. You'll only be giving away your money and your identity. learn how »

Scams about foreclosures, jobs, IRS feed on desperation
USA Today – 4/20/09
So many pitches seem so enticing: "I paid $2.99 and got $12,000. Claim yours!""Would you like to earn an extra $200, $900 or even $5,000 everyday! For just 45 minutes work!" "New mortgage with low payments!" Local, state and federal authorities are trying keep up with consumer complaints, but aside from going after fraudsters, officials say one of the best ways to protect yourself is education. learn how »

Put your computer to the virus test
Examiner.com – 4/19/09
Just as more and more computers connect to the Internet, more and more malicious code is created to cause issues. Whatever the name - computer viruses, computer worms or malware - they are a pain for many computer users. While folks hear the news about these issues - they often don't know if they are at risk till it is too late. read more »

Vermont AHS Computers Struck by an Unknown Virus
SPAMfighter – 4/18/09
Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) had to shutdown the computers systems on April 10, 2009, following the outburst of a virus. The computers experts of the State are currently working on the problem in order to resume the online services of the department. read more »

Beware e-mail and web sit fraud
The Post – 4/17/09
Tips for spotting fraudulent e-mails include: urgent appeals claiming your account may be suspended or closed if you fail to reply; requests for security information because they have lost it; typographical or grammatical errors; and too-good-to-be-true offers. read more »

Hackers Launching More Phishing Attacks to Exploit Recession
SPAMfighter – 4/17/09
Avivah Litan, Security Analyst at Gartner, says that phishers are continuously taking advantage of the adverse economic conditions, as reported by Business Week on April 14, 2009. read more »

Obama to receive cybersecurity review this week
USA Today – 4/15/09
Former Booz Allen Hamilton management consultant Melissa Hathaway's much anticipated 60-day review of U.S. cybersecurity policy is scheduled to hit President Obama's desk this Friday. read more »

Cyber Criminals Hacked Paul McCartney’s Website for Distributing Malware
SPAMfighter – 4/14/09
The official website of former Beatles star Paul McCartney was hacked to spread malware infection across visitors via drive-by downloads. People's favorite Paul McCartney won multiple Grammy awards is an English songwriter, singer, composer and poet. read more »

Conficker hits Utah
InternetNews.com – 4/13/2009
Apparently Conficker isn't just media hype. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the University of Utah was infected with the Conficker worm. In total the report claims that some 700 PCs at the university were infected with Conficker. read more »

Conficker worm hits University of Utah computers
The Associated Press – 4/12/2009
University of Utah officials say a computer virus has infected more than 700 campus computers, including those at the school's three hospitals. read more »

Scammers cashing in at tax time
NewsOK.com – 4/11/2009
The IRS expects e-file returns to exceed last year’s record of 80 million. So it’s a good time to be wary of Internet schemes to steal your identity. read more »

Power grid hackers probably got inside by attacking PCs
WTN News – 4/10/2009
The hackers who reportedly planted malware on key parts of the U.S. electrical grid, perhaps with the intent to cripple the country's power infrastructure, most likely gained access like any other cybercriminal -- by exploiting a bug in software such as Windows or Office, a security researcher said. read more »

Woman falls victim to £10k net dating scam
The Buckinghamshire Examiner – UK, 4/8/2009
PEOPLE are being warned to be on the alert for dating scams after a woman was conned out of more than £10,000. read more »

Internet scam tries to rent out homes in Ocean City
Press of Atlantic City – Ocean City, 4/8/2009
A new Internet scam threatens to ruin some families' summer vacations at the New Jersey shore. read more »

Bogus security software growing threat: Microsoft
Agence France Press – San Francisco, 4/8/2009
Hackers are increasingly hiding viruses in bogus computer security software to trick people into installing treacherous programs on machines, Microsoft warned on Wednesday. read more »

Don't get scammed!
The News-Dispatch – Michigan City, 4/7/2009
It seems that not even the mother of a bank CEO is immune to the threat of identity theft. Wilma Dwight, 80, mother of Horizon Bank CEO Craig Dwight, had a scam scare last week when a supposed magazine seller called her on the phone. read more »

Pros and cons of online paid surveys
Ecommerce Journal – 4/7/2009
The popularity of online paid surveys in the U.S. has skyrocketed in the last couple of years. Many people consider them as a fast an easy way to make money online. The task of being involved in online surveys is not mentally or physically demanding. You can work from the comfort of your own home, offer your opinion and earn money for it! But isn’t it too good to be true? read more »

Beware online programs that promise cash
San Francisco Chronicle - 4/6/2009
A pyramid scheme that regularly surfaces during recessions is gaining momentum, this time supercharged by the social-networking power of the Internet, according to the Better Business Bureau and other consumer watchdog groups. read more »

Keep away the scammers out for your cash - Keep away the scammers out for your cash Review a list of the most common forms of fraud to help protect yourself.
Jacksonville – 4/6/09
In an effort to keep potential victims abreast of the most prevalent scams, the Times-Union compiled the top 10 scams in Florida, according to the Attorney General's Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. read more »

FBI releases top Internet scam list for 2008
FWDailynews – 4/5/2009
A synopsis of the 2008 Internet Crime Report is available on the FBI’s Web site at fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel.htm. The report says that complaints to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) jumped more than 33 percent in 2008 over 2007, with 275,284 complaint submissions. The majority of the cases involved fraud in some way. read more »

Pat Lawson: Free Internet games could well include costly virus
El Paso Times - 04/03/2009
There are so many warnings going around over the Internet. Some are legitimate and some are hoaxes, but this one comes personally from sheer anger at being bilked by what I thought was a legitimate site to temporarily download games. I wanted to warn you: If you like to play games on your computer don't go to a site unless you know it's absolutely safe. read more »

BBB Tip: Facebook friends could actually be hackers, scam artists
Post-Bulletin – Minnesota, 4/3/2009
Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how consumers can protect themselves against hackers, scammers and ID thieves on social networking Web sites. read more »

Woman sentenced to prison in adoption scam
Associated Press – Madison, Wisconsin, 4/2/2009
A former Pierce County woman who faked a pregnancy and offered adoption to four women has been sentenced to four months in prison. read more »

FBI warns against “phishing”
NBC13 – 4/1/09
It’s a real-life, classic case of “phishing”—a virtual trap set by cyber thieves that uses official-looking e-mails to lure you to fake websites and trick you into revealing your personal information. read more »

Expert: Victims lose billions to Internet scams
Newsday.com – 4/1/2009
If you have e-mail, you've undoubtedly been solicited with a quick, seemingly too-good-to-be-true way to make money. One of those scams is the "black money" scheme. Why is the money black? To avoid detection as its smuggled in from overseas, of course, or to protect it from terrorists. read more »

Conficker Worm Strike Reports Start Rolling In
Washington Post – 4/1/2009
Reports are trickling in about the impact from the Conficker worm, as infected systems passed zero hour at midnight and began downloading additional malicious components. Here's a quick roundup of some of the more notable incidents caused by Conficker so far, according to published reports: read more »

FBI Reports Huge Spike In Internet Crime Complaints
RedOrbit.com – 3/31/09
There were 275,284 reports of Internet crime in 2008, up from 206,884 in 2007, the annual IC3 report said. Total year-over-year dollar losses increased 10.8 percent in 2008, reaching a record high of $264.6 million, with an average individual loss of $931. In 2007, losses were $239.1 million, dwarfing the $18 million in losses seen in 2001. read more »

Warning: Oprah Show Contest Scam
ABC2News.com – 3/30/09
The Internet Crime Complaint Center has put out a warning about a fraudulent e-mail claiming it's from the "Oprah Winfrey Show." read more »

Internet crime jumps by a third last year
CNN.com – 3/30/09
Internet-based rip-offs jumped 33 percent last year over the previous year, according to a report from a complaint center set up to monitor such crimes. The report said that about 77.4 percent of perpetrators of Internet fraud were men. read more »

4 On Your Side: Cyberscams
TMJ4.com – 3/28/2009
Investigators who track Internet crime say scam artists are taking full advantage of this economy. Internet scam artists are targeting both businesses and individuals more intensely than ever. read more »

Count Web Fraud Among Recession-Proof Endeavors
Investor’s Business Daily– 3/27/2009, By Pete Barlas
U.S. consumers lost a record $264.5 million last year to Web-based fraud scams, some involving online auctions and identity theft, says a government report slated to be released on Monday. With unemployment soaring, the jump in online fraud could mean the recession is aiding and abetting the problem by creating a lucrative, but nefarious avenue for newly jobless technology workers, says Avivah Litan, an analyst for research firm Gartner.
read more »

Scam 'phish' e-mails target College accounts
The Signal, The College of New Jersey - 3/25/09
In past weeks, many College e-mail accounts have been the targets of scam "phish" e-mails, where recipients were led to believe their accounts would be deleted if they did not follow the directions in the message. read more »

Teenager jailed for selling fake holidays on eBay
Evening News, The Edinburgh Paper – 3/25/2009
A TEENAGER who made £8000 by selling non-existent holidays on eBay has been jailed for 14 months. Nathan Hudson copied genuine adverts for luxury trips to London, New York and Paris onto the internet auction site and charged customers up to £1,500 a time for the breaks. read more »

Internet crooks tempt job seekers "Secret shopper" scams and bogus job postings
WIVB.com – Gowanda, New York, 3/24/2009
With no job and no paycheck, many job hunters are heading into new territory to find work. The problem? Many scam artists know it, and where you see desperation, they see dollar signs. read more »

Homeowners warned about bogus Web site
The Eagle Tribune – 3/23/2009
A city official is warning homeowners who face foreclosure to beware of Web sites that offer help but also seek personal information. Mary Zarba, housing coordinator for the city's Community Development Office, has sent out a warning about a Web site that masquerades as representing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and tries to dupe people out of personal information. read more »

Phishing Gets Automated and We’re All Getting Targeted
bMighty.com – 3/23/2009
Phishing expeditions business and personal data are rising to record levels, with fake anti-malware campaigns alone increasing by 225% in the last six months of 2008. Password-stealing Web sites jumped 827% IN 2008. The reason? The phishers are investing in automation. read more »

Personal Finance: Work-at-home job deals often are just a scam
The Sacramento Bee – 3/22/2009
You've seen the enticements: "Work from Home: Earn $$$." "Guaranteed: $92/Hour…No Experience Needed." They pop up on your computer, litter your mailbox, shout from your TV screen. read more »

Connecticut man sentenced for e-card scam
ITWorld.com – 3/21/2009
A Connecticut man was sentenced to four years of probation for his role in a phishing scam that tricked America Online subscribers into giving up their credit card numbers. read more »

How to Not Get Scammed Online
Money Saving Blog – 3/21/2009
The Internet can be used as an amazing money saving tool. Unfortunately, all good things have their bad side and the Internet can also be something that sucks your money away from you faster than you can say “www”. One of the worst ways that the Internet can cause you to lose money is by making you the victim of an online scam. There are tons of scams out there designed to take your money out of your pocket and put it into someone else’s bank account. read more »

Scammers may have contacted 400
The Tennessean – 3/20/2009
Hundreds of Spring Hill residents were recently contacted by scammers "phishing" for debit card, pin and account numbers, according to local banks. read more »

Beware of stimulus frauds and scams
BizTimes.com– Milwaukee 3/20/09
The public hype over the amount of money available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has led to numerous scams promising assistance in obtaining "free government money" - when often the only money that changes hands is from the pockets of unsuspecting applicants. read more »

Crooks set up fake tax refund site
Toronto Sun – 3/19/2009, By Peter Zimonjic
Con artists are using tax time to fleece Canadians with a clever scam that directs people to a fake government website promising tax refunds in exchange for credit card details… read more »

Online identity theft threat doubted
NewsOK – 3/19/2009, By Bryan Dean
The threat seems real enough — a thief finds a document on the Internet with your Social Security number and uses it to steal your identity… read more »

IRS improves cybersecurity, but still vulnerable to malware
NextGov – 3/16/2009, By Jill R. Aitoro
The Internal Revenue Service has improved its protection of computer networks from malicious software attacks, but it has failed to scan computers for viruses and to enforce security policies, which put taxpayer data at risk, according to a report the IRS inspector general released on Monday… read more »

FTC urged to investigate Google's hosted services
Computerworld – 3/18/2009, By Sharon Gaudin
A privacy group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Google Inc.'s cloud computing services, including the popular Gmail hosted e-mail service, the Google Docs applications and the Picasa photo sharing service, adequately protect users privacy… read more »

Twitter scam warning issued for South Carolina residents
SCNow.com – 3/18/2009, By Eric Walters
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs warns consumers to be vigilant of scams circulating on Twitter. According to a press release, scammers are utilizing the site in the same way they use spam e-mail to try to entice users… read more »

Comcast: Exposed User Data Not From Internal Leak
PC World – 3/17/2009, By JR Raphael
Comcast now believes a phishing or malware scam is to blame for exposing hundreds of its customers' user names and passwords. A list containing around 8,000 names was discovered by a PC World reader this week and brought to the company's attention… read more »

Check Overpayment Scams: Seller Beware
Alibaba.com – 3/17/2009
Thinking of selling a car or another valuable item through an online auction or your newspaper's classified section? If so, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, wants you to know about check overpayment scams… read more »

Nigerian's scam nets 19-year sentence
CNN.com – 3/17/2009
A college student in Nigeria has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for scamming an Australian woman out of $47,000 online by pretending to be a widowed white businessman desperately in love with her… read more »

Tim Berners-Lee admits to falling for online scam
Phil Muncaster, VNUNET.com – 3/16/2009
Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the world wide web, revealed today that he has been a victim of online fraud. Berners-Lee, who is widely credited with inventing the web when working at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in the 1980s and early 1990s, told The Daily Telegraph that a site he visited to buy a Christmas present turned out to be a fake… read more »

Internet scam preys on job seekers
WFLX.com – 3/16/2009, by Al Pefley
A new scam is targeting some of the most vulnerable: People desperately looking for work. It's no secret that there are lots of Internet scams. But, now, it seems there's a new one out there. And, if you're out of work, be careful because you could be the next victim… read more »

How to tell, what to do if computer is infected
Associated Press – 3/15/2009, By JORDAN ROBERTSON
Computer-virus infections don't cause your machine to crash anymore. Nowadays, the criminals behind the infections usually want your computer operating in top form so you don't know something's wrong. That way, they can log your keystrokes and steal any passwords or credit-card numbers you enter at Web sites, or they can link your infected computer with others to send out spam… read more »

Troubled Economy Ideal for Scammers
TopTechNews.com - 3/13/2009
One scam method is a bogus e-mail that appears to be from government agencies and asks for information to "verify" that you qualify for a payment. The scammers use that information to commit identity theft. Other e-mail scams provide links to find out how to qualify for funds. By clicking on the links, consumers might download malware… read more »

Small Business Owners Targeted by Fraudulent Tax E-mail
SPAMfighter News – 3/10/2009
The US SBA (Small Business Owners Administration) is giving warning to owners of small businesses to be vigilant of a new suspicious e-mail. The officials of the Administration state that the e-mail belongs to an Internet phishing scam. read more »

Internet scams prey on the jobless
Chicagotribune.com – 3/9/2009
Widespread layoffs have created new opportunities for an old Internet scam that can look tempting in times of desperation: working from home for quick cash. U.S. postal inspectors in Chicago say such ploys are on the rise during the recession. read more »

Gone phishing; scam alerts
GreatFallTribune.com – Great Falls, MT, 3/8/2009
Scammers don't discriminate as is evident by an e-mail sent to Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock last week. Like many Montanans, Bullock received an e-mail telling him that unless he sent account information to the sender "access to sensitive account features will be limited." read more »

Bill would slam identity thieves
Public Opinion – Chambersburg, PA, 3/8/2009
State Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, is co-sponsoring two bills that would subject identity thieves to felony charges for stealing or misusing personal information. Senate Bill 300 would make it a second-degree felony to steal confidential personal information. Individuals who receive stolen personal information would be guilty of a third-degree felony. read more »

Online Deals or Scams?
MyFox.com – New York, 3/6/2009
You’ve seen those online offers for free laptops, TVs, and iPods. They’re definitely exciting, but are they the real deal? Online freebie offers lure people in, but some websites require you to purchase other items and participate in advertising surveys before you get any free laptop or iPod. read more »

Hacker who stole millions from Calgary company facing extradition
Calgary Herald – 3/6/3009
An extradition hearing has been set for May 7 for an Israeli national alleged to be the mastermind of a multimillion-dollar worldwide computer hacking ring. read more »

Hackers Get 4 Years in Prison Over Malware Install
NYTimes.com - 3/5/2009
Los Angeles computer security consultant has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for using malicious software that turned thousands of computers into ''zombies'' so he could steal private information. read more »