Phishers’ Five Most Proficient Spoofs

As per reports coming in from the MSN technology Website, security researchers and analysts say that computer users need to be cautious against hacking, phishing or theft of personal information while surfing on the Internet.

According to them, the five most proficient e-mails that steal user's personal information are chain e-mails, virus discovered on one's computer, new addresses on MSN messaging, help e-mails and fake Websites and e-mails.

In the case of chain e-mails, the security analysts cite some examples such as the Lord would bless the recipient if he/she passes on the e-mail to ten friends or Bill Gates would pay money to the person who puts his e-mail ID and name at the end of the given chain e-mail etc. These e-mails are purely hoax, circulating on the Internet several times and still steal people of their personal details, as reported by in.msn.Technology on September 1, 2008.

Security researchers said that the second most proficient technique is hoax that scam people pertains to new addresses on MSN messaging. In this, the e-mail coming in the Instant Messenger has names of people that the recipient has never heard of. Security experts advised that users getting such unknown names straight away block them as IMs are very effective in spreading Trojans, viruses or worse malware.

Additionally, security experts stated that sometimes a window suddenly pops up on the screen, telling the surfer that his system has a computer virus, and advising him to conduct a scan to eliminate it. This is also another technique to disseminate malicious content.

And lastly, the fake Websites and e-mails known as phishing. They steal personal information of user through a phishing message that appears absolutely legitimate and authentic.

According to the security experts, one crafty phishing e-mail that phishers send out to addresses on the contact list they phished. It asks for help from the recipients because the sender is stranded on a foreign trip. Security analysts say that the ideal way to safety is to personally ask the contact if he has e-mailed any such Help! Message.

Related article: Phishers Expand Their Sphere of Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 9/15/2008