Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

On-Campus Placements By Internet criminals

As per a report on cyber-crime based on inputs from FBI and British and European hi-tech crime units, in some instances, gangs offer to finance the studies of undergraduates and establish them as 'sleepers' in target businesses.

Cyber-crooks are cashing in on the popularity of famous social networking like MySpace and eBay to thieve identities or make more customized fraud attempts. In summers of 2006, more than one million computers were malware infected, after users of MySpace clicked on a bogus ad put by hackers.

Cyber crooks are customizing their strikes with 'spear phishing' method. In this method, emails appear authentic, like from colleagues or employers.

McAfee report puts forth that cyber crime has mutated into a more focused business. The cyber attacks are drifting away from hit-n-miss global viruses to strikes that try to encash news and major sports events like 2006 World Cup.

The McAfee report is based on work with law implementation agencies, including the FBI and the Metropolitan police, claims that cyber crooks are conducting wide talent-hunt exercises on campuses. The 'typical' target is not a professional criminal - the black-hat hacker- but an intelligent student hunting for passwords and confidential information just for curiosity rather than any malice.

Greg Day, security analyst, McAfee, stated that a lot of students visit chatrooms, discussion Websites and start discussing a topic. Organized crime is a part of this.

Amateur hackes generally communicate with each other in net slang called as 133t that helps criminal gangs target these hackers. One famous strategy is blackmail. "They will say: 'we know you did this, we can shop you unless you work for us". Providing sponsorship to students for studies is more common in less flush countries like India or Russia.

The report warned that there is a fake economy of belief. People don't divulge personal details to strangers on the road, but making online profiles can open the mine of details to cyber criminals. They can get anything from there, from name and interests to pets and life story.

Related article: One Out of Four Data Breaches Involves Schools

ยป SPAMfighter News - 12/13/2006

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next