Protecting your personal information from PHISHING

Hi

As the technology and connectivity via the internet improves we are experiencing more and more that criminal elements are using the technology to catch unsuspecting people off guard.

The most frequently used attack is the use of phishing on either websites or in e-mails.  This involves the criminal sending an e-mail to a person and it appears to be coming from either a bank or some other financial institution - in the email it might state that there were some "un-authorized" activity on the account of the individual and instruct the recipient of the mail to follow a link that looks legitimate but refers to a rogue server with a web page that looks just like a real page from the supposed institution but it is actually just a way to get the unsuspecting person to offer the access details to their bank account internet banking.

We have now started receiving warning after warning from our banks that they will never act in such a way - meaning they will not send you an e-mail requesting you to log into a website to confirm your access.  They will also once they suspect illegal activity immediately suspend your account and you will have to go to them in person to verify the details. 

If you do get an e-mail claiming to be from a bank - requesting you to confirm your details via a link - just move your mouse cursor across the link checking the details displayed when your mouse cursor is hovering over the link.  You will often see that the actual link is different from the text typed in the text - and the details will be nothing like the official site from the bank you use.

What to do? 
1.  Forward the mail to the security department of your bank - they are all the time trying to get the situational awareness to the client to be prepared not to react to these type of messages.

2.  Do not follow the link or if you need to follow it and enter some curse as the username and password or even any other info the rogue page will require.  Just be carefull that no software might be installed via the web site to be somewhat of key stroke logger to record the keystrokes you do on the keyboard and sending it somewhere to allow someone to get access to your private data.

This is one of the issues with personal security that has become really heartbreaking in recent times.  Our vigilance.

JD

In a dangerous world

With the increase in violence and attacks worldwide - we have to be honest that the need to improve our security has grown exponentially.

The dangerous situations we face daily tend to be cause more and more stress and we need to address them and improve our quality of life.

In this blog I am going to try and discuss the major issues with regards to security and protecting ourselves from the attacks.

JD