On-line scamming is getting craftier and a major economic slump could make the threat they pose to businesses even nastier. What sorts of strategies will they use? Social web sites and bot net engineering are two of those tactics.
With the continued proliferation of on-line social networking among individuals and across the large business enterprise. Companies will struggle with ways to control and limit the use of sites that could infringe on the use of non-public knowledge about there company. Although individuals see the benefits of social group sites. Many have also been well established and several of these are nearly household names with the younger crowds.
Even the 40-60 group have an interest in social linking. But the lack of proper computer knowledge, anti-virus software, other protective measures and a wide user base opens up many more opportunities for exploitation. Whether it is clicking on a malicious video in a MYSPACE message or on a deceptive link on FACEBOOK, the dangers remain obfuscated, so anyone’s at risk.
Now, one asks how and why would a friend put a devious link on their social web page for me to click? The answer, they likely did not. A hacker did, though means of website database injection. So, instead of infecting one person’s page, they can inflict damage on a larger group as a resource to infect more victims of this illicit act. In turn, it basically makes the devious links seeds to install malicious software on your system. It could be a key logger, a virus, a root kit.. anything in the spy-ware arena is possible when this happens. Generally a root-kit, virus, or bot-net software is used. Software that can compromise your system to the most malicious level. This software essentially makes your computer system a mechanism to continue the threat.
Essentially it becomes a perpetual issue when not put into check. The behaviors of cons and hackers is not going to change anytime soon. It will continue to grow, and cost more people time, money and even possibly identity theft. Awareness will have to be raised though channels like this, and training in corporate environments to keep the employees focus away from social networks.
The fuel phishers will use to push the schemes, are based on common economic concerns, or the I or someone else is dying and needs your help with all this money we don’t know what to do with. From that fuel hackers, phishers and con artists will use social networking to confuse consumers into providing their financial information or clicking on links claiming to inform them of essential financial details. For example, phishing e-mails will continue to be seen which claim mergers of financial institutions or ask for verification of financial information. Also contributing to this economy-fueled cyber-crime will be increased layoffs of IT personnel who may turn to the “dark side” by joining up with Eastern European cyber-crime organizations and using their skills through the only outlets where they can find revenue.
While companies will try their hardest to cut back on expenses in 2009, for the reasons above, there will be a legitimate justification for an actual increase in IT security spending to prevent data loss that could absolutely cripple a company when they are already in the midst of difficult economic times.
With that in mind, it makes sense to remain focused about keeping your technology up to par. Keep software updated, keep Anti-virus subscriptions up to date and be mindful of what your employees may be doing on-line.
When in doubt, don’t click, install or believe anything you see on the Internet without proof positive!
Always seek professional help when you think you’ve been a victim..
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