Survey Finds Majority of Aussies to be Unaware of Phishing

eBay's Galaxy survey discovered that nearly one in every three Australian net surfers thought that users have to be "stupid" to be duped by phishing scam. However, 72% of these responders were a part of unsafe online activities.

The study of 647 Web users observed that 70% were in danger of becoming phishing targets. Even though 30% of overall Internet customers claimed that they were aware of phishing, barely 7% of them could properly comprehend what the word exactly denoted.

Phishing is a kind of cyber scam that deceives users into providing classified details to an unknown person (usually a fraudster) through counterfeit Websites or fake emails, frequently furnishing profitable bargains. Certain e-mails assert that the information has to be modified, otherwise login rights will be forfeited, others state that the account has been infected and the information has to be submitted for safety.

The cyber-crooks utilize advanced methods like appropriating actual graphics from the homepage of the banks to give a genuine look to the e-mail, hiding the hyperlink so that it seems to channelize to the actual site whereas it actually directs the user to a counterfeit one.

While greater number of Australians utilizes Internet auction sites, online purchasing, social networking sites and net banking, they are progressively becoming prospective phishing targets. Several of the frauds arrive through email and normally purport to be from a reliable origin like a bank, the online auction Website eBay, or the Internet payment firm PayPal.

eBay Australia's Trust and Safety Director, Alastair MacGibbon, alleged that phishing strikes were getting more and more high-tech. Socialblogging published the statement on October 4, 2007. phishing scams also sometimes dupe the most seasoned online buffs, but that does not mean one has to be scared of utilizing the net, added MacGibbon.

Mr. MacGibbon also warned Internet users against responding to emails that demand personal details, and advised them to get a secure browser and keep their anti-virus program constantly updated. Mr MacGibbon appended that eBay consumers should transfer the toolbar of eBay, and select an inviolable passcode, modifying it frequently.

Related article: Survey Finds 96% Zombie PCs in Malaysia

» SPAMfighter News - 10/20/2007