NEWS /
|
Fake security software was the No. 1 cybersecurity woe afflicting computer users in 2009, and Apple users lost some of their immunity to cybercrime as they stored more data online instead of on hard drives, according to the cybersecurity firm Symantec. In a report released on Tuesday, Symantec noted that Brazil had risen to third place in the list of countries with "malicious activity," defined as spam, online scam attempts and other types of cybercrime. The United States remained in first place at 19 percent, with China second at 8 percent, and Brazil third at 6 percent. Conficker -- a malicious software program all over the news last April -- and sophisticated attacks on websites of Google Inc and other large companies in December and reported in January were the most publicized cyber events of the year. But the single most prevalent form of cybercrime was fake security software, which computer users normally see as a flashing notice that their computer is infected with a virus, said Vincent Weafer, a Symantec vice president. The notice often provides a link to software that can be downloaded after payment, but the user does not get security software but rather, a virus or worse, Weafer said. "Virtually everything we see today is fake AV (anti-virus)," he told Reuters. "It's such a money-making racket." The scam is popular is because victims willingly hand over their credit card numbers, thinking that they are purchasing legitimate software, and those credit cards can then be used at will. Weafer also warned that Apple users, as they move their computer activities like storing photographs in remote servers managed by online companies, will have to take the same precautions that savvy PC owners have used for years to avoid identity theft. These precautions include keeping credit card and other key numbers secret and being suspicious of offers that seem too good to be true. "It's the notion of 'I'm on a Mac.' Yes, you're on a Mac but you're in the cloud," said Weafer. "They've got to be as careful as anybody else." |
Tags: Symantec
Mixx
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
delicious
reddit
MySpace
StumbleUpon
LinkedIn
Norton introduces Android app to track kids smartphone activity
With the rising popularity of mobile apps, Norton puts forth its security mobile apps to keep a tab on smartphone activities of kids...
Norton Mobile Security for Android
Symantec Introduces Norton Mobile Security App for Android
Kingston Partners with Symantec, EA, PopCap, Maxthon; Rolls Out urDrive
Facebook Rubbishes Symantec's Allegations
Facebook Advertising Allows Unauthorized Profile Access, Claims Symantec
Microsoft Slays Rustok, the Spam Monster
Leaked Images, Availability, Pricing,
Specs, Pre-order
Karbonn officially launches the A9 Android smartphone
14 May, 2012, 06:14 PM IST
Supreme Court website hacked in response to TPB, Vimeo block
17 May, 2012, 04:46 PM IST
Sony Xperia P up for pre-order on Infibeam, launching on 25 May
19 May, 2012, 04:32 PM IST
Samsung Galaxy S III pops up on eBay India for Rs. 44,770
22 May, 2012, 11:19 AM IST
16 May, 2012, 11:57 AM IST
The latest "should they-shouldn't they" event with Facebook is the lift of the minimu...
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Champion Review
26 May, 2012, 04:13 PM IST
6.0
Back in the day when audio solutions weren’t integrated into motherboards, people had to go out and buy their own sound cards. They were large
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 Review
Portable Wi-Fi Drives for your smartphone
Fed up of the limited storage on your mobile device? Here are some devices
Top 5 potential Gmail alternatives
Google’s Gmail service is arguably the most advanced and feature-packed...
Five ways to beat the petrol hike
Petrol prices went up by a considerable amount post Wednesday, and this...
By Karan Shah
SpaceX's Dragon capsule locks up to the ISS
26 May, 2012, 04:18 PM IST
In a moment that is nothing short of being historic, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has, according to NASA reports ...
Microsoft VP talks about Ballmer's new tech - an 80-inch touchscreen
Cisco won't invest in their Android tablet for businesses
Yahoo! shuts down Livestand 6 months after launch
Giant radio telescope gets split location
776 views
_011517074205_160x90.jpg "Epson Stylus Photo R3000")
Sony to roll-out ICS update next week,...
BlackBerry Curve 9320 announced in India...
Microsoft VP talks about Ballmer's...
Cisco won't invest in their Android...
About Us | Site Profile | Tech2 Team | IBNLive News | IBNLive Hindi News | Cricket News | Indian Stock Market | Policy | T & C
Copyright © 2011, Tech2.com India - A Network 18 India Venture
