Hackers All Set To Take Advantage of Festive Season

The Product Strategy Vice President of PC Tools, Michael Greene, cautioned that one out of 10 holiday shoppers may end up confronting some form of spyware, adware or other internet attacks as they indulge in extensive web-based transactions in the run up to Christmas season.

Security experts indicate that fraudsters are determined to make best use of Christmas season when online shoppers embark on a buying spree. Preparations are already on to launch organized large-scale attacks on online shoppers.

Online spending touched $10 Billion during the Christmas season of 2005, growing 24% more than 2004. This indicates that a good number of people are at risk. According to PC Tools, novice or inexperienced e-commerce users are most vulnerable to online frauds and scams such as stealing confidential account information.

Many consumers are not aware that web surfing can lead to problems like identity theft or computer lock up. Stressing on this, Greene commented that holiday shopping creates the perfect platform for hackers to gather user's passwords and sensitive information using spyware, keyloggers and phishing techniques.

Revealing that wealthy Internet users in the US are being targeted by fraudsters, a recent Gartner survey highlights that people earning more than $ 100,000 received as much as 112 phishing emails compared to 74 emails received by those earning less.

Keeping an eye on the coming Christmas season and aiming to sensitize and educate the public about Internet frauds, APACS, the UK banking organization, has planned to run a web chat featuring footage of criminals using fake ATMs and readers to commit frauds. Two security experts from APACS will participate in this chat session to pass on security advice. The web cast is scheduled for November 15, 2006 at 1300 GMT and will be hosted on webchats.tv.

Consumers need to exercise caution while using & exploring new Internet sites for online purchases. PC tools advised that consumers should always look for labels indicating secured transactions, purchase from trusted sources and never give away personal information to any unauthentic online sources. The Product Strategy Vice President of PC Tools, Michael Greene, cautioned that one out of 10 holiday shoppers may end up confronting some form of spyware, adware or other internet attacks as they indulge in extensive web-based transactions in the run up to Christmas season.

Security experts indicate that fraudsters are determined to make best use of Christmas season when online shoppers embark on a buying spree. Preparations are already on to launch organized large-scale attacks on online shoppers.

Online spending touched $10 Billion during the Christmas season of 2005, growing 24% more than 2004. This indicates that a good number of people are at risk. According to PC Tools, novice or inexperienced e-commerce users are most vulnerable to online frauds and scams such as stealing confidential account information.

Many consumers are not aware that web surfing can lead to problems like identity theft or computer lock up. Stressing on this, Greene commented that holiday shopping creates the perfect platform for hackers to gather user's passwords and sensitive information using spyware, keyloggers and phishing techniques.

Revealing that wealthy Internet users in the US are being targeted by fraudsters, a recent Gartner survey highlights that people earning more than $ 100,000 received as much as 112 phishing emails compared to 74 emails received by those earning less.

Keeping an eye on the coming Christmas season and aiming to sensitize and educate the public about Internet frauds, APACS, the UK banking organization, has planned to run a web chat fe...

» SPAMfighter News - 11/16/2006