Study shows hacking up 33 percent costing millions - 03/31/09 01:58 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Every day new reports of another flaw and another breach. Today we learn attacks rise 33 percent. I’m not surprised.
Credit card details of 19,000 Brits have been found on a cached Google page, where they had been accidentally published by fraudsters. Silly criminal hackers need to tighten up their data security controls and not publish sensitive data like that!
Reuters reports - Fraud on the Internet reported to U.S. authorities increased by 33 percent last year, rising for the first time in three years, and is surging this year as the recession deepens, federal … (0 comments)

Identity Theft Speaker; Are you prepared for Conficker? - 03/30/09 03:42 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Speaker
News of Conficker out of control then under control is everywhere.
60 minutes reports on everything we have discussed in these posts. Main stream media has recognized the Internet has a cancerous virus and is infected. Criminal hackers are creating viruses infecting webpages in record numbers all in the name of money.
Security professionals are losing sleep as they race against the bad guys in anticipation of the next big breach.
Conficker is big news as its infecting mainly corporate networks at an astonishing estimated 10-12 million PCs and this sleeper cell is set to get … (0 comments)

Identity Theft Speaker; Notorious Criminal Hacker Nabbed - 03/26/09 09:32 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Every so often the good guys win one. Here they caught a big fish.
At age 19, an Israeli criminal hacker named Ehud Tenebaum made news as “The Analyzer,” (a great tag for a criminal hacker) after he cracked and penetrated the Pentagon, NASA and even Hamas computer networks.
He then went silent and is believed to have embarked on a 10 year long international conspiracy to hack networks of United States and Canadian banks and other financial institutions. Losses are estimated at $10-12 million.
The Analyzer’s hacking technique is believed to be “SQL injection,” … (0 comments)

Identity Theft Speaker; Secure your networks, Conficker virus strikes April 1st - 03/26/09 08:03 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Update your virus definitions and make sure your operating system has the latest critical security patches. Conficker worm is coming.
So far this year it is estimated that somewhere between 3 and 12 million computers have been compromised by the “Conficker” worm, also known as “Downup,” “Downadup” and “Kido,” possibly considered the largest known global botnet.
Microsoft and others are in a 24/7/365 battle with the makers of Conficker to see who ends up at the finish line first.
None of the PCs infected with Conficker are displaying any of the characteristics generally exhibited by the … (0 comments)

Scareware is software that scares the user into paying - 03/25/09 07:43 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
If one could have a favorite scam, for me it would be “scareware.” My reasoning for this is thats it’s one of the few scams that actually gets through to me. My defenses are pretty good, but I still see scareware. They’ve even taken my blog posts and used my name to launch scareware in Google News Alerts. I got some criminal hacker’s attention and he created scareware in honor of lil’ ole me!
Web pages may be infected or built to distribute scareware. The goal is to trick you into clicking on links. After landing … (0 comments)

Your Computer Could Be Part of a Botnet - 03/23/09 02:47 PM
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
There is just no end to the vulnerabilities that computer users face. SQL injection. SQL is abbreviation of Structured Query Language. Pronounced ”Ess Que El” or ”Sequel” depending on who you ask.
IBM Internet Security Systems discovered 50% more web pages infected in the last quarter of 2008 than in the entire year of 2007.
The infection is called a SQL injection. According to Wikipedia, a “SQL injection is a code injection technique that exploits a security vulnerability occurring in the database layer of an application.”
In other words, a SQL injection is a virus … (0 comments)

Your Small Business Next Target For Credit Card Fraud - 03/20/09 02:00 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Speaker
Payment processor data breaches have dominated the news. A recent study says that may change.
Study says small to medium businesses are the criminal hackers new target. This should come as no surprise as large enterprise networks have become hardened.
Over the past few years criminal hackers have acted as hornets attacking an unassuming passerby and swarming enterprise networks. Big business in response has allocated billions in funding for technology and talent to thwart their sting.
Now in 2009 enterprise defense is the best its ever been, still lax, but in the game, the … (0 comments)

You Are On Your Own With Identity Theft Protection - 03/19/09 02:29 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Every week we learn of a new hack, another breach, credit cards stolen and another identity theft victim.
Many have blamed the bad guy or criminal hackers for all the problems we have in the security world. And while the bad guy is certainly a problem, they are a small part.
The people responsible for their own physical or computer security or the security of others are often the guilty.
You wonder why your credit card company sent you a new card? Because some baboon didn’t do his job and your were compromised.
Chances are … (0 comments)

You Dont know Me, But I'm Coming After You - 03/18/09 11:00 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
I know all about you, but you dont know me. You might read about me, see me on TV or even follow my advice. But you dont really know me. I dont really care either way. I'm better than you and I will take from you. How?
I don’t have a job. I’m essentially unemployed. However I do have a career. And it involves figuring out ways to get others to pay me. Every day I perform tasks to bring eye balls to what I’m offering, selling or trying to get. What is this vocation? … (0 comments)

Do you own your name or brand? Or does an Identity Theft criminal? - 03/17/09 07:14 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
If you are smart enough to be here online, you probably took the neccesary steps to secure your brands online domain. But what if you haven't? What if someone else did it for you with bad intentions? Do you own your name? Your kids names?
Cybersquating is the act of procuring someone elses trademarked brand name online as a dot com or any other US based extension.
Cyber squatters squat for many reasons including impostering for fun, hoping to resell the domain, using the domain to advertise competitors wares, stalking, harassment or outright fraud.
Grabbing … (0 comments)

Fake IDs and Passports For Sale - 03/16/09 09:00 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Fake IDs mean anyone can be a real estate agent under your license. Fake IDs mean at any given time someone can show to a closing or conduct and real estate transaction as you. I worked with an agent in TN whose ID was stolen by her ex boyfiends new girlfriend and she lived and worked as her victim until the victim was arrested. Think it cant happen to you?
Who in their teens and college years didn’t have a fake ID? I did.
At 17, I was 23! That meant I could buy … (0 comments)

Strangers Good. People We Know Bad. - 03/13/09 08:58 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
An axiom in business is that we buy from and do business with those who we know like and trust. In the 21st century we have seen CEOs, investment bankers, politicians and those in the highest positions of trust completely screw everyone who put them on their pedestal.
Madoff pleads guilty for orchestrating a 65 billion dollar Ponzi scheme and 3 rows of investors in attendance at his trial clapped, applauded and sang. These are people that bestowed an incredible amount of money in a man that is probably a psychopath.
What does this … (0 comments)

Recession Turns IT Workers Into Hackers - 03/11/09 08:56 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
What a nasty headline for an article.
From ABCnews.com the journalist roasts IT professionals on a spit. And the comments were all inspiring.
As the recession rears its ugly head, disgruntled ex employees are in the best position to drop a bomb in the companies network or suck all the data out with a few terabyte drives.
A recent study by McAfee and Purdue University put the tally of fraud, data loss and damage done at 1 trillion dollars. A thousand billion sounds like a lot of money.
To paraphrase some of the comments;
No matter … (0 comments)

Your Neighbor May Be an Identity Thief From Hell - 03/09/09 12:32 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Speaker
Especially in tough times, identity thieves could be someone in your inner trusted circle. I’ve consulted on stories where the dad stole his child’s identity. Those closest to us at home or work have direct access to our data.
“Familiar” Identity theft happens because the thief goes through a process of rationalizing their ability to commit the crime. The process is often referred to as the “Fraud Diamond”.
First they have Incentive. They say “I want to or have a need to commit this crime”. Next is Opportunity. They see a hole or weakness in the … (0 comments)

Twitter Security Falls Short - 03/06/09 08:28 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Speaker Expert
Twitter has become a hackers playground. Almost weekly news reposts a new twitter hack. Mischievous Hack attacks on Twitter are increasing and it seems there is no end in sight. While twitters developers are working to make it more secure, the open nature of the application fuels mischievous and even criminal hacking.
Twitter is microblogging. In 140 characters or less you tell your followers what you are doing or point them towards something that may enhance their lives. Most Tweeple are twits and say nothing of value. Their tweets are mundane and serve no benefit … (0 comments)

Identity Theft Protection Prevention Around Tax Time - 03/04/09 06:36 PM
Identity Theft Speaker Expert Robert Siciliano
We are approaching tax time. Scammers are ramped up and looking for your money. Learn these tips and watch your back. Protect and prevent Identity Theft.
1. Text messaging scams or Phexting Like phishing but texting); Criminal hackers have access to technology that generates cell phone numbers and access to mass text messaging services. They send texts that install keyloggers or direct you to websites that steal your data.
2. Tax Preparer Scams; Reports of tax preparers who tell their clients they have to pay back their 2008 stimulus checks, then pocket the … (0 comments)

Hackers and Hackees Oh My! - 03/02/09 09:24 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert Speaker
You're either predator or prey. Perp or victim. The hacker or the hacked. Its what you don't know that can hurt you. Is your data safe? Are you part of the problem or solution? Do you even know hat "service pack 2" is" In the past decade there have been hundreds of data breaches resulting in millions of compromised records. The motivation behind these hacks? Identity Theft. As a results dozens of new laws and government intervention to protect citizen data.
Black, White or Grey, over the past decade the media has given the term … (0 comments)

 

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