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The CRYPT Mag

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Phishing

> NO ..I'm not being rude,Phishing is a scam that uses email or pop-up windows to trick you into giving your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.

> A Phisher sends an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization you deal with â for example, your Internet service provider, bank, a website you purchase from, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to update or confirm your account information. The message will direct you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organizations site or ask you to reply to the email with your personal information.

> The purpose of these scams is to trick you into giving your personal information so the thieves can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.

> Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:

> If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don't ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company Web address. In any case, don't cut and paste the link in the message.

> Don't email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization's Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins https: (the s stands for secure). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.

> Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

> Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.

> A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It's especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software patches to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.

> Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.

> Report suspicious activity to the FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to: spam@uce.gov

> If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at: www.ftc.gov

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