Online Scam Targets Pet Lovers - 01/31/10 10:50 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
I love my dog, 60lb German Shepherd. Small for a GS, she was the runt. I’ve always rooted for the underdog. The underdog has more heart, more passion and they try harder. My GS is a perfect example. She’s my second in 20 years. After the first one passed, another was in my house 4 months later. With a wife who was 4 months pregnant. That was a fought contest between man and wife that was won when the runt fell on the feet of the wife at the kennel. I had nothing to do with … (0 comments)

Home Safety: Operation Storm Targets Burglars - 01/30/10 12:42 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
I travel a LOT. I spend lots of time on planes and in new and different communities. Traveling is often a bear, but the rewards of consuming different cultures and ways of living is well worth it. I often try to learn from others “way” to determine how it might work in my life.
Here is an interesting story about how law enforcement in the UK is dealing with criminals. They have a very different take on the issue than we do. But there is definitely something to learn here.
“Police in the UK … (1 comments)

Burglaries Up; Many While People Are Home - 01/29/10 10:48 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In Wichita, Kansas they are facing a huge up tick in burglaries. Generally, crimes of this nature rise when there is a financial crisis, unemployment, gangs and drug activity. Police there have recorded 2,839 burglaries last year, a 10.2 percent increase over the same period the year before.
Of the 2,839 burglaries, 384 — or 13.5 percent — occurred while residents were home. Many of these burglaries occurred as people slept in their homes. Home security conscious people can’t even imagine that is possible, but I know it is. Too many people don’t think it can … (0 comments)

Police Warn of Potential “Alarm” Scam - 01/26/10 08:01 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert

Call them con men, grifters, scammers, or thieves. Or simply call them liars. Lying is what they do best. They stare you in the eyes, do it via email or over the phone and lie through their teeth. They do it casually and with such conviction that we have no reason not to believe them.

A Police Department investigated a suspicious activity report after a resident contacted police about an “alarm company” calling and offering a free home security system for people in their neighborhood.
Someone representing “Maximum Security” said the company was giving … (2 comments)

Crimeware: Do It Yourself Criminal Hacking - 01/25/10 08:40 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
For $400-$700 you too can be a criminal hacker. Phishing hacking and spoofing software has been around for a few years. Heres what may be an example.
The ease and availability of this good for nothing other than crime software has made it easier, cheaper and more user friendly than ever to get into the cybercrime business.
Anyone with moderate computer skills that can navigate around the web and upload or download files is pretty much capable of accessing and implementing the crimeware.
Todays crimeware kits are designed so a person who is new to the … (0 comments)

Meet Raoul Chiesa: UN Interregional Crime & Justice Research Inst. - 01/24/10 11:21 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In my quest to learn more about what makes a criminal hacker tick, I came across Mr Chiesa when he commented on a blog post I wrote “How I Wasted 4 Hours with a Criminal Hacker”. He warned me I was treading on dangerous ground due to the fact that when communicating with the blackhat, I used my real name and provided my web address. His concern was a revenge hack that would clear the hackers name amongst his hacker peers.
I’ve danced with the devil a few times in my life and don’t mind the … (1 comments)

Convicted Burglar; Police Offer Tips for Keeping Home Secure - 01/24/10 03:33 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
When it comes to breaking into homes, the best experts are the ones who know everything about the process, the burglars themselves.
The burglar in this story, is on probation for a September 2008 burglary conviction, but admits he burglarized 30 or 40 homes to feed a drug addiction.” When I was breaking into houses, the feeling was like you get when you open your presents on Christmas morning and see what you got.”
Imagine if that was your outlook? Think for a moment how warped and anti-social a person must be to process the world … (0 comments)

10 Business Identity Theft Risks in 2010 - 01/23/10 02:44 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Advancements in technology over the past decade have created a tremendous amount of opportunity for the savvy businessperson. Whether it’s mobility, streamlined processes, marketing, or the ability to sell to a global market, there’s never been a better time to be in business.
Like anything good, there is always a negative. While there are certainly many negatives in technology, like the headaches when something doesn’t work correctly and the constant learning curve we must all endure, the biggest negative is security issues.
So for the SMB (that’s you, the savvy businessperson), here are ten considerations for … (0 comments)

Forget Privacy, Think Security - 01/20/10 10:42 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Everywhere you go there is a privacy advocate screaming to protect your privacy. Privacy advocates, bless them, are a dying breed. They fight for whatever privacy rights there are left and do their best to remain watchdogs. If your gig is privacy, my guess is you have lost all your hair and are popping Prozac to relieve the stress of todays anti-private society. And you are fully employed and very very busy.
My gripe, people are freaking about full body scanners at the airports and the privacy issues involved. This isn’t a privacy issue, it’s a … (0 comments)

Neighbors Tip Leads to Arrest of Burglary Suspect - 01/20/10 07:07 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Where I live there isn’t much that goes on outside of my home that I don’t know about. I live on a dead end, so I have less traffic both on foot and by car than most. It’s still a well traveled area and I pretty much see every car that drives by, every person that walks down the street and most of the activity that goes on at the neighbor’s house too. Now I’m no nosy neighbor, I could care less what the neighbors do, as long as what they do doesn’t negatively impact me.
… (3 comments)

Protect Your Identity While Donating to Haiti - 01/19/10 10:28 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The Haiti tragedy has people all over the world scrambling to donate money to help in the relief effort. It is no surprise that scammers have ramped up and are sending “phish” emails designed to extract your money to their own nefarious cause, “themselves.” Right now, there is 24 hours news reports focusing on the tragedy and people are understandably getting sucked into the drama of the events. This is a prime time to reach out to those same people who are enmeshed in the reports and get them to donate to fake organizations. The following … (2 comments)

Google Gets Hacked & What It Means to You - 01/18/10 02:26 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Numerous outlets reported that Googles Gmail and 30 other companies were hacked by the Chinese. Ars Technica reports many say the hack was targeted against Chinese dissidents.
The cyber-assault came to light on Tuesday when Google disclosed to the public that the Gmail Web service was targeted in a highly-organized attack in late December. Google said that the intrusion attempt originated from China and was executed with the goal of obtaining information about political dissidents, but the company declined to speculate about the identity of the perpetrator.
McAfee reported evidence that a vulnerability in Internet Explorer … (3 comments)

Why Am I Logged Into Someone-else’s FriendFeed? - 01/17/10 11:49 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
I have pretty tight controls over my network and access to my 510 usernames and passworded accounts. Yes he just said “510”…and counting. I have full administrative rights over every PC and nobody else has access to my home or office. So it came as a surprise to me when I went to log into my FriendFeed account to make an adjustment and I discovered I was logged into someone-else’s account. Serious, no joke, I’m not stupid. I have FULL access.
The account is owned by Canadian who sells diet pills and skin care. There are … (0 comments)

Secure Your Social Media - 01/16/10 03:35 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In a shocking instance of high tech harassment, a hacker took over a woman’s Facebook account while she was on a camping trip, with no Internet and no cell phone service. The hacker impersonated this woman, but instead of attempting to scam her family and friends out of cash, he used her Facebook profile to post suicidal messages, including, “My only friend is the handgun in the back of my closet,” and, “I don’t want a funeral or memorial, I want it to be like I never existed.” After two and a half hours of Facebook … (1 comments)

Be Careful about False Alarms At Home - 01/15/10 12:36 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
We are all familiar with the boy who cried wolf. The protagonist of the fable is a bored shepherd boy who entertained himself by calling out “Wolf!” Nearby villagers who came to his rescue found that the alarms were false and that they had wasted their time. When the boy was actually confronted by a wolf, the villagers did not believe his cries for help and the wolf ate the flock (and in some versions the boy).
Many, if not all of us are guilty of setting off our alarms accidentally. Sometimes we open a door … (1 comments)

Protect Yourself from Social Engineering - 01/15/10 12:30 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Social engineering is the act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. While similar to a confidence trick or simple fraud, the term typically applies to trickery or deception for the purpose of information gathering, fraud, or computer system access; in most cases the attacker never comes face-to-face with the victim. But in many cases the attacker certainly does come in contact with the victim.
You may be doing all you can and should to protect yourself from hackers and scammers. But a response to a simple email that looks exactly like your … (0 comments)

Homeowner’s Screams Scare Burglar from Home - 01/13/10 10:43 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
What’s the point of having a home alarm system? An alarm system screams when you can’t or when you aren’t there. Noise has been proven to be an effective deterrent. From birth we are taken by surprise by loud noises. Sirens, screams and big bangs startle us and make us hyper aware of our circumstances.
When someone or something is up to no good a loud notice often scares them away, on purpose, that’s what it’s designed to do. We scream naturally. Screaming is something we do right out of our momma at birth. Screaming brings … (3 comments)

Don’t Let Strangers Enter Your Home - 01/13/10 09:46 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Sounds simple enough right? But when a decent looking affluent couple can breach the Whitehouse and gain entry to a formal party, protected by the Secret Service, then almost anything is possible.
Posing as a health inspector, police officer or even a secret service agent is probably done every single day with success. I once posed as a “water inspector” and gained access to people’s homes by saying I needed to “check the colorization of their water”, as I demonstrated on The Montel Williams Show here. A fake badge and a uniform of any kind can … (2 comments)

Data Breaches: The Insanity Continues - 01/12/10 10:11 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The Identity Theft Resource Center Breach Report also monitors how breaches occur. This task is made more difficult by the scarcity of information provided (publicly) for approximately 1/3 of the recorded breaches. For the remainder, those events that do state how the breach occurred, malicious attacks (Hacking + Insider Theft) have taken the lead (36.4%) over human error (Data on the Move + Accidental Exposure = 27.5%) in 2009. This was a change from all previous years, where human error was higher than malicious attacks. One theory for this change is that the organization and sophistication … (1 comments)

2009 Data Breaches: Identity Theft Continues - 01/11/10 10:40 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The Identity Theft Resource Center® Breach Report recorded 498 breaches, less than the 657 in 2008, more than the 446 in 2007. Are data breaches increasing or decreasing? That is the question no one can answer. This fact will not change until there is a single data breach list requiring mandatory public reporting. With some breaches not being reported publicly, and some state Attorneys General not allowing public access to reported breaches, we doubt that anyone is in a position to answer the question above. When we allow laws to be created requiring breach reporting but … (1 comments)

Data Security Predictions For 2010 - 01/11/10 09:39 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Forrester Research, Inc. in Cambridge, MA is an independent research company that provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice to global leaders in business and technology.
They released their 2010 data security predictions. Heading into 2010, they are predicting five new data security trends:
1) Enterprises will keep their data security budgets relatively flat;
2) Market penetration for data loss prevention (DLP) tools will increase even as prices fall by half;
3) Cloud data security concerns will begin to dissipate;
4) Full disk encryption will continue its steady march into the enterprise, spurred on by breach disclosure laws; … (0 comments)

Impostor Poses as Secret Service Agent and Police Officer - 01/10/10 04:06 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
A bunch of us recently celebrated a 40th birthday of a friend. The conversation at one point revolved around my ATM scam and how easy it is to con people. A new boyfriend of a friend began to tell everyone how he often cons people to get in bars and clubs. “I NEVER wait in lines” he said, “and I always get VIP treatment”. I hate lines too, but I have a hard time lying to get what I want. Anyway the guy is 6 foot 8 inches, which in many ways is a handicap in … (37 comments)

Reality Show Actor Robs Banks - 01/10/10 02:36 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Here we have a series of bank robberies, an appearance on a nationally televised reality show and the arrest of a man who was running from the law. Apparently, he robbed a bank, then went on the show, then robbed two more banks after the show.
“What an incredibly stupid thing to do, to commit a bank robbery, then go on a national TV show and make a spectacle of yourself and then come home and commit two more bank robberies,” the detective said. “He should be on the ‘Dumbest Criminal’ show.”
Investigators watched the show … (1 comments)

Pair Accused Of Stealing TSA Workers Identities - 01/10/10 03:54 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In my early 20’s I bought real estate in a depressed area north of Boston in Lynn Massachusetts. At 20, that’s all I could afford. Lynn was then and is now known as “Lynn Lynn the City of Sin, you don’t go out the way you come in.” Lynn’s a hard city known for drugs and prostitution. It’s also the home of various biker gangs known as “one percenters” The theory is 1% of all people come out of their momma just bad.
No surprise that the Boston Channel reports a Lynn couple was accused of … (1 comments)

11 Robbed of Pants in Home Invasion, Drug Related - 01/07/10 11:10 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
At least three masked men broke into a home, made 11 people inside remove their pants, shot one man and fled with the pants, their contents and televisions.
You’re probably wondering why they would steal someone’s pants? Police said the robbers apparently made the victims remove their pants so they could steal their wallets and other belongings as well as to prevent them from pursuing the robbers when they fled.
The reports states that the crime might have been a drug related one. Criminals often target criminals. “There is no honor among thieves” as they say. … (2 comments)

How to Hack a Corporate Network…with Facebook - 01/07/10 10:00 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
There’s a lot of excessive trust in the Facebook world. People have entirely dropped their sense of cynicism when logged on. They have no reason to distrust. People who are your “Friends” are generally those who you “know, like and trust”. In this world, your guard is as down as it will ever be. You are in the safety of your own home or office hanging with people all over the world in big cities and little towns and never have to watch your back.
Ethical hackers are the tech industries white nights, also known as … (1 comments)

Florida’s Dumbest Criminals - 01/07/10 09:11 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
There are all kinds of dumb. But “dumb and criminal” is hard to beat. Fox Tampa shamelessly (and we appreciate the candor) lets us all know they may take the cake in dumb criminals.
A Bay County man arrested for shoplifting had a request for deputies: let him drink the beer he stole. He became combative when they refused.
A Marion County deputy pulled over a naked man riding a motorcycle. Turns out the cyclist was drunk. He was one of many naked people in the news.
A naked 21-year-old man covered in feces was arrested … (2 comments)

Homeowner Jailed While the Burglar He Attacked Walks Free - 01/05/10 08:09 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
There are few scenarios as disturbing as one’s home being burglarized or invaded. The thought of having an uninvited person enter your property while you are home or not, and then taking your stuff, holding you or your family hostage or committing violent acts is an unthinkable event most people are unprepared for.
A “home invasion”, is the crime of entering a private and occupied dwelling, with the intent of committing a crime, often while threatening the resident of the dwelling. It is not a legally defined offense (federally) in the United States. One would think … (1 comments)

How I Wasted 4 Hours with a Criminal Hacker - 01/05/10 07:46 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Lately I’ve been coming across “advertisements” posted on forums from criminal hackers looking to sell our stolen information. They are “carders” selling “dumps” and “fullz” I wrote about it HERE. Well I decided to make contact with one of them to see what the deal is. It turns out the one I connected with was less than forthcoming, but was very persistent and more than likely has and will continue to scam people. Here is the FIRST and SECOND postings set up by criminals that I’ve found this week. The links are functional as of this … (5 comments)

How a Burglar Works - 01/04/10 09:00 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Without a doubt one of the most difficult jobs on the planet is to be a law enforcement officer. Enforcing the law means constantly dealing with difficult people and situations. They deal with violence, theft and all kinds of disturbances.
One thing’s for sure, they see lots of crime and can learn a lot about what motivates criminals and how to protect yourself from them.
The Wichita Eagle interviewed Officer Joe Seitz to get an explanation on a burglar’s thinking. A burglar will ring the bell or knock on the door to see whether anyone is … (3 comments)

Resolve to Dissolve Identity Theft - 01/04/10 08:44 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Here we are again, getting ready to face a new year. Time to set those dreaded New Year’s resolutions. You know, lose the 10 pounds, give up the chocolate, quit smoking, and win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Along with the breaking of some bad habits, now is the time to take on some new habits to protect you against identity theft. The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) offers the following top resolutions you can make in 2010:
Lock up your social security card! Get it out of your wallet! Put this valuable card, along with all … (0 comments)

ID Theft Is Set To Rise On The Heels Of The Recession - 01/03/10 11:48 PM
Jay McDonald from Creditcards.com does a great job of summarizing Identity Theft Predictions for 2010.
“Like wolves to injured prey, identity thieves are out to turn the recession struggles of average Americans to their own advantage.
“In my adult life, I’ve never seen more varations of old scams and the degree of sophistication in newer scams,” says Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com.
The Identity Theft Resource Center predicts an increase in the number of identity theft crimes and victims during the next two years.
Particularly vulnerable are jobseekers whose desperate search for employment makes them easy targets for fake job listings … (6 comments)

Holiday Safety: Post Holiday Home Security - 01/01/10 11:53 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Most people know the holidays are prime time for burglars to enter your home and steal from you while you are at a friend or family member’s party. They go after unwrapped and new high end items that they can re-sell or “fence” on the “black market”. It’s pretty obvious who’s home and who is not at home when the lights are off and there is no car in the driveway.
All a burglar has to do is ring a door bell to see of you are actually home. If no one answers they then jiggle … (3 comments)

PC Worlds Top 10 Security Nightmares of the Decade - 01/01/10 10:31 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The last decade we have seen technological breakthroughs unlike any other. In response we have seen a tremendous rise in fraud. The reason? The speed of the conveniences technology have far outpaced the security of technology.
PC World puts out their list:
Cyberwar: In February 2000, a Canadian teenager named Mafiaboy used automated floods of incomplete Internet traffic to cause several sites–including Amazon, CNN, Dell, eBay, and Yahoo–to grind to a halt, in what is called a distributed denial of attack.
Malware: Viruses and worms have always been around, but in the summer of 2001 one … (1 comments)

Attempted Bombing of Airplane Highlights “Security Illusion” - 01/01/10 08:32 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The attempted bombing of a US airplane is alarming but no major surprise in a post 9/11 world. The terrorist had a device containing a high explosive attached to his body in both a liquid and powder form. The government says that as the flight neared Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday, Christmas Day, he set off the device, but it sparked a fire instead of an explosion.
The TSA’s 3-1-1 rule is 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag … (1 comments)

5 Tips to Credit Card Identity Theft Prevention - 01/01/10 06:25 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In a recent article in Computer World, Tom Patterson CSO of Magtek, with his Glamor Shot photo, provides “5 counter-fraud tips you’ve never been told”. Anything a consumer can do to reduce their risk for account takeover, they should exercise. While in most cases the consumer isn’t responsible for the losses, as long as you refute the fraud in a specified time frame, and it’s your duty as a citizen to do so. Studies show much of the terrorists funding is coming from card fraud. Card fraud is a breach of national security.
Tip#1 Stare down … (0 comments)

Pope Attack Brings Security Home - 01/01/10 04:41 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, holidays or not, security needs to be top of mind. On Christmas Eve the Pope was knocked to the ground in a terrifying security scare just hours before his traditional Christmas Day message. The perpetrator jumped over security barriers and dived on top of 82-year-old Benedict XVI, dragging him to the floor.
The woman, who is said to have a history of mental problems, was involved in a similar incident last Christmas Eve. Both incidents were captured on video surveillance highlighting the importance or recorded video. … (0 comments)

 

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