intelius: Top 10 Jobs For Criminal Hackers
- 05/11/10 08:16 PM
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
So you wanna go to the dark side? You’ve been hearing all about this hacking thing and you’d like to impress your girlfriend and show her how you can hack into corporate databases eh? Well, first if you are nodding your head, you’re an idiot. Second, chances are better than ever that you’ll get caught. Law enforcement is actually getting pretty good at finding the bad guy. In the meantime, the FBI posted the top jobs in computer crime and the bad guys are hiring.
They need:
1. Programmers: They are the dudes that write … (2 comments)
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intelius: Why Everyone Should Learn to Be A Hacker
- 05/10/10 05:20 PM
I know enough about hacking to make all of my software un-usable, mess up my operating system, and crash my PC. I also know enough about hacking to re-install my operating system, re-install all my software and get my PC running fresh and relatively secure. I’m no criminal hacker. And I am not suggesting that. Nor can I program; I don’t know code but I do know enough to hack in a way that keeps me running, and again, secure.
Hacker isn’t a bad word and hacking isn’t a bad thing to do. It’s something that if everyone who plugs into … (19 comments)
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intelius: Elderly Couple Assaulted During Home Invasion
- 05/08/10 06:14 AM
Every day I scan the news for stories to report on. My job is to disseminate information in a way that is easily digestible and makes sense. Hopefully the reader will act on what they learn and make better decisions to protect themselves and their families.
It’s not easy to read stories every single day about horrible things happening to good people. The frustrating part is seeing the same awful crimes happening over and over and over again. I can write about “Elderly couple assaulted during home invasion” 20 times a day and each story will be worse than the next. … (1 comments)
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intelius: Why We Need Secure Identification
- 05/08/10 06:01 AM
New York police have served warrants dozens of times to an elderly couple looking for suspects the couple has no knowledge of. “Police have knocked on their door 50-plus times since the couple moved into their home in 2002, looking for suspects or witnesses in murder, robbery and rape cases, according to reports. The couple has been visited by law enforcement up to three times a week. Authorities are investigating the possibility that the Martins’ identities may have been stolen.”
Criminal identity theft is when someone commits a crime and uses the assumed name and address of another person. The … (0 comments)
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intelius: Why American’s Identities Are Easily Stolen
- 05/06/10 04:56 PM
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
We can fix this thing, but we won’t because we don’t want to be inconvenienced. I’m introduced to amazing technologies every week that will stop this. All they need is government support and system wide adoption. Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer and Ed Markey and the rest of the grand standing politicians scream about privacy and security issues when they see an opportunity for publicity, but their follow through is less than satisfactory.
We use easily counterfeited identification, Social Security numbers that are written on the sides of buses and we rely on the anonymity of the phone, … (0 comments)
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intelius: Secret Service: ATM Card Skimming Five Times Higher This Year
- 05/05/10 08:30 AM
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
ATM skimming is approaching a billion-dollar issue. ATM skimming is happening coast to coast and there seems to be no end in sight. Skimming devices have been found recently at ATMs at a Bank of America in Daytona Beach and one weekend last month people came and went from the automated teller machine outside a Chase Bank in Escondido, California. They slipped in their cards, took their money and left.
In Boston, police uncovered an international ATM skimming ring responsible for stealing money from hundreds of local accounts. Izaylo Hristov, 28, of Ontario, Canada, a Bulgarian … (2 comments)
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intelius: Personal Knowledge or “Qualifying Questions” as Authenticators
- 05/03/10 12:48 PM
How many times have you forgotten a password? Fortunately the website you were on only needed your username or an email address and they would respond with a few questions for you to answer. Once you responded with what was in the system you then re-set your password and you’re in. Easy peazy.
What’s your favorite food? Where did you honeymoon? Your first pets name? Name of your first car? The name of your elementary school? Your fathers middle name? All these questions are meant to replace that used-to-be-secret-obscure word that only you and your parents would know the answer … (2 comments)
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intelius: 9 Year Old Kid Hacks Schools Computers
- 04/29/10 02:53 PM
Hacking has gone from “phreaking”- hacking phone systems to “cracking”-breaking into networks for fun and fame and over the past 5 years criminal hackers from all over the world are targeting huge databases full of credit card numbers. But hacking is also becoming part of popular culture. The “scriptkiddie” from back in the day is the 9 year old today who is just very intelligent, anxious and doesn’t k now anything other than technology.
Police say a nine year old boy hacked the county school system to change teachers’ and staff members’ passwords, change or delete course content, and … (0 comments)
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intelius: Google Hack Whacks Passwords
- 04/29/10 02:43 PM
Code named Gaia after “Greek Goddess of Earth” a Google single sign on password system was hacked in December.
The NY Times reports “the intruders do not appear to have stolen passwords of Gmail users, and the company quickly started making significant changes to the security of its networks after the intrusions. But the theft leaves open the possibility, however faint, that the intruders may find weaknesses that Google might not even be aware of, independent computer experts said.”
Google is a significant part of many individuals and businesses online activities. Millions rely on Google every day to … (0 comments)
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intelius: Stealing Identities of the Dead
- 04/24/10 05:43 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Stealing the identity of the living is so 2009. Stealing the identity of the dead is so wrong, and so easy. It is made even easier by public records. A provision in federal law that reformed welfare in the 1990’s also created a loophole that could allow swindlers to obtain the Social Security numbers of the recently deceased.
In some state’s, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics include Social Security numbers on all certified death certificates. And anyone can obtain a death certificate from the registry for $18.
Wired reports Identity thieves filed for $4 Million … (0 comments)
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intelius: Scareware Incorporates Customer Service
- 04/23/10 12:49 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Fake anti-virus software called ’scareware’ pops up in your browser and begins to scan your hard-drive made to look like a legitimate scan. It often grabs a screenshot of your “My Computer” window mimicking your PCs characteristics then tricking you into clicking on links. Pop-ups bombard you and warn you that your PC is infected with an Ebola- like virus and your PC will die a horrible death with fluids running from all ports if you don’t fix it immediately for $49.95.
Information Week reports those behind a new fake antivirus software have added a new … (2 comments)
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intelius: Caller ID Spoofing Becoming Illegal
- 04/22/10 02:22 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
AP reports using false caller ID with the intent of tricking people into revealing personal information or otherwise causing harm would become illegal under legislation that passed the House Wednesday. The legislation would only outlaw the use of spoofing technology when the intent is to deceive and harm the recipient of the call. Legitimate uses of the technology, such as a domestic abuse shelter changing its number to protect an occupant of the shelter, would still be permitted.
Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to display a number on the recipient’s … (0 comments)
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intelius: Scammers Bait 40,000 Facebook Victims with Ikea Gift Card
- 04/21/10 04:10 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
It’s just a matter of setting up a fake Facebook page and marketing it to a few people who then send it to their friends and it goes somewhat viral. The Ikea scam hooked 40,000 unsuspecting victims with the promise of a $1,000 gift card.
PC World reports In the past months, fan pages have popped up all over the social networking site, offering too-good-to-be-true gift cards. There’s the $500 Whole Foods card, the $10 Walmart offer, and the $1,000 Ikea gift card. The Ikea page put these gift card scams on the map last month, … (4 comments)
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intelius: ID Theft Ring Gleaned Socials From Medical Records
- 04/07/10 05:02 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Medical identity theft occurs when the perpetrator uses your name and in some cases other aspects of your identity, such as insurance information, to obtain medical treatment or medication or to make false claims for treatment or medication. As a result, erroneous or fraudulent entries wind up on your medical records, or sometimes entirely fictional medical records are created in your name. Financial identity theft as it relates to new account fraud is when an identity thief gets the victim’s Social Security number and opens new financial accounts under the victim’s name. There’s very little protection … (1 comments)
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intelius: Using Facebook to Steal Company Data
- 04/06/10 06:50 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
There is a reason why computer users are called “users.” Like crack addicts who are drug users, more is never enough. And when under the influence, people do stupid things. I find myself scanning the Dell catalog like it’s the latest (or any) Victoria Secrets catalog. I’m amazed at how many people I know are online all day long and digitally stoned. The bad guy knows you are obsessed and uses this against you. He sees that you are comfortably numb here. He understands that in the virtual world you’re delirious and more apt to respond … (4 comments)
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intelius: Criminal Hacker Gets 20. Books, Movies and Hollywood Starlet Next
- 04/06/10 01:03 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Albert Gonzalez and his gang of criminal hackers were responsible for data breaches in retailers and payment processors, with some estimates saying they breached over 230 million records combined. Gonzalez, considered a proficient criminal hacker, provided “dumps,” a term which refers to stolen credit card data, to “carders.” “Carders” are the people who buy, sell, and trade stolen credit card data online.
“Gonzalez and his hacking buddies hacked into computer systems and stole credit card information from TJX, Office Max, DSW and Dave and Buster’s, among other online retail outlets, in one of the largest — … (0 comments)
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intelius: New Facebook Phish Steals Passwords
- 03/30/10 06:38 PM
I got an email from a colleague today: Subject: “My Facebook account got hacked.”
I wonder if you could give me some guidance here -
I received the following email from Facebook:
——————————————————————–
From: Facebook [XXXXXX@facebook.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:58 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Security Warning From Facebook
Dear XXXXXXXXXX,
We have detected suspicious activity on your Facebook account and have temporarily suspended your account as a security precaution.
You can regain control of your account by logging into Facebook and following the on-screen instructions.
Please be sure to visit the Facebook Help Center (http://www.facebook.com/help/) for … (2 comments)
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intelius: Why Debit Cards Are a Nightmare
- 03/30/10 06:23 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Not all plastics cards are created equal. The major differences in credit vs. debit is in the protections (or lack of protections) that come along with the fine print. A debit card is connected directly to a person’s bank account and when compromised can devastate your bank balance.
I know too many people who’ve fallen victim to some type of debit card fraud whether through skimming or unauthorized purchases and never recouped their losses. Sometimes the banks just won’t budge. They tend not to believe a person who’s PIN and card number was leaked.
Creditcards.com … (4 comments)
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intelius: If You Want To Be an Identity Thief, Go To Jail
- 03/30/10 04:33 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Willie Sutton a famous thief when asked why he robbed banks he was quoted saying, “Because that’s where the money is.” Where’s the money today? Identity Theft! What’s a great way to commit identity theft? Go to jail. Prisons in eight states let convicts work in jobs that give them access to Social Security numbers and other personal information for the public, despite years of warnings that the practice should end, a federal audit finds.
In a related story all sex offenders convicted of pedophilia will be made swimming coaches at summer camps.
“Although we … (4 comments)
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intelius: Top 10 Cities for Cyber Crime
- 03/30/10 02:39 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
“I love that dirty water, oh Boston you’re my home.” Boston Legal, “Cheers,” Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, Chowda, Lobsta, Pahkin the Cah in Havad Yahd and home to the second worst ranking of cyber crime in America. Lovely! Seems whatever advice I give in Boston media, means squat. After all, I am a Proper Bostonian. Boston missed first place by a lousy 11 points. I blame the college kids. Boston has the highest concentration of college students on the planet. It’s their fault. Seattle took first place. What’s your excuse Seattle? Microsoft?
1. Seattle 2. … (3 comments)
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Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
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