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"Phishing" Attacks to Increase
neutron_p writes "The number of people who succumb to identity thieves' "phishing" e-mails could go way up if immediate action isn't taken to preempt the next generation of attacks, according to an Indiana University School of Informatics researcher. "Phishing" e-mails appear to be sent by legitimate businesses, but are actually created and distributed by villains who are after your personal information. They describe some thieves' tricks. One kind of context-aware attack tricks eBay bidders into giving out identifying information by leading bidders to believe they've won an auction. In another kind of context-aware attack, a potential victim might receive a message from a known person -- for example, a friend or loved one - asking him or her to go to a Web site to update banking information."
because hackers cannot break secure servers, they are resorting to tricking clueless users to revealing important information.
Keep up the good work, admins.
Number of Idiots On the Internet To Increase...
Give anyone who falls for one a Darwin award.
[ Monday is a terrible way to spend one seventh of your life. ]
The author of the article is just jealous because I'm going to get millions from Nigeria, and he isn't!
The same folks will fall for Pharting scemes.
"It has come to our attention that your Scents information may have been compromised. In order to prevent you becoming victim to an incorrect Rose scent on a virtual bouquet, or an invalid Roast Turkey smell this Christmas you should log in and sniff at our server to verify your sniffers.
Thank you!"
Ewwww!
Busy aligning my non-linear thoughts.
Dear son,
Pleaze go to the link below to update yoor bank account infromation. I am not feeeling well these days and I want to make shure that you get yoor inheretence munny as quickly as possible. Thanks!
Love,
Mom
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
People dont use the word 'villain' enough. I think it has something to do with the fact that having a villain requires having some sort of superhero.
Yeah, but at least you are transmitting all your personal info to just that thief in a secure fashion, and it won't be picked up by other thieves.
....me to update my Citibank account... ..umm..
I'm going to tell him to go to hell.
"a potential victim might receive a message from a known person -- for example, a friend or loved one - asking him or her to go to a Web site to update banking information"
Dear son,
Pleaze go to the link below to update yoor bank account infromation. I am not feeeling well these days and I want to make shure that you get yoor inheretence munny as quickly as possible. Thanks!
Love,
Mom
That seems no stranger than the mails that my Mom constantly send to me such as "3NLARG3 yUR P3n1S W1TH V1AGRA".
Man, my mom. Always thinking of me...
Hi Mom, Hi Dad!
Indeed! I have received two emails from my building society which include the phrase A number of bogus e-mails are currently circulating in the UK encouraging customers to visit fraudulent websites where personal or Internet security details are requested. Halifax would never send e-mails that ask for confidential or personal security information and it is very important that you do not reply to these e-mails or click on any links within them.
Sensible advice and policy, except that it's immediately followed by this LINK: Please read our security section for help and more information.
Almost unbelievable!
Is anyone else out there disturbed that /.'ers have moved to spelling out fsck instead of just writing fuck?
Except for one problem gmail is still by invitation only, sure they may be passing invitations out like crazy but untill they are open to joe schmoe to just goto www.gmail.com and sign up... gmail wont have a big enough impact.
... so can we actually type out "legitimate" instead of using "legit?" I mean, I realize we all miss the days of "I checked it out and its legit, Microsoft will send you a zillion dollars if you forward this email to 10 people..."
If we don't use the word legit, it will serve as a spam flag.
Trying to use sarcasm in text-based forums does not work.
> I would think most clueful people would turn this off, ...
Well, now that you've eliminated 95% of the general Internet-using population, what now?...