The bad guys have new methods to put your data at risk
(NAPSA) - A few simple tips could help protect Web surfers
from a low-tech tactic used by high-tech thieves: disguise.
Hackers have found ways to impersonate banks online, to
pretend to be your social networking acquaintances and even to
disguise themselves as long-lost friends. It's all in an
effort to spread computer viruses and other malicious software
that allow criminals to hijack personal information, trick
users into purchasing fake anti-virus programs and more.
Fortunately, some basic safe-surfing practices and the right
security software can help keep you safe. Computer security
experts at Kaspersky Lab offer these tips:
- Looks Can Be Deceiving. Always visit banking and financial
sites directly, not through links you receive via e-mail. Such
links often take you to Web sites that look exactly like your
bank's but are actually clever forgeries that steal whatever
passwords or account numbers you enter.
- Friend or Fraud? Criminals often use malicious software to
target people on social networking sites. If you receive a
link from a friend, confirm that he or she actually sent it to
you. If not, don't open it. The now infamous Koobface virus
spread to millions of social networkers who clicked on video
links supposedly sent by people they knew. The virus then
infected their computers and began transmitting any credit
card numbers or other valuable information it could find back
to its creator. It also sent copies of itself to all the
contacts in the victim's profile, again disguised as a
friendly video message from its latest victim.
- Frequently Asked and Fake. Web searches for common phrases
such as "free screen savers" or "song lyrics" will often lead
to sites that infect visitors with malware, even if they only
view the Web page. Protect yourself by making sure your anti-
virus scanner is always on and up to date.
- Think Before You Share. A quick search of a social
networking site can reveal where people work, the town they
live in, where they went to high school, their interests,
hobbies and more. Scams can then be custom-made to fit that
information. If you use social networking sites, use privacy
settings to limit the information that can be viewed by people
who aren't in your circle of friends. Be wary of strangers who
claim to know you through an old connection, and remember that
if they try to involve you in a financial transaction, odds
are it's a con.
- Beware of Scareware. If you receive a message warning that
your computer is infected with viruses and that only a certain
anti-virus program can remove them, beware. The programs,
which are offered as free trial versions or as pay services,
are often malware in disguise. Be suspicious of all "free"
anti-virus programs and only rely on programs purchased from
reputable sources.