Here at RSA, an increasing amount of security purchases are made by those who got the task dumped in their laps, but who have little or no formal or practical training.
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Want to find holes in your security perimeter? What better way than to attempt to attack yourself, and here at RSA there are plenty of tools to help.
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When talking about cybersecurity, we instantly think of viruses and malware. But advances in personal computer security have made it much harder for hackers to infect your PC through traditional channels like email.
As a result, they have developed new attack methods to get around your defences using a range of techniques, on and off-line. One of the most used and also successful is the “Technical Support Scam” that combines social engineering and technology to empty a victim’s bank account.
Social engineering relies on building trust with a victim, before tricking them into doing something that gets around their security defences. In the case of the Support Scam, criminals telephone their victims pretending to be from a reputable business, like Microsoft or your security or telephone provider – a company name you recognize.
Posing as an engineer, the hacker informs their target that they have already fallen victim to criminals, and they must take urgent action to plug the security gap. The victim is asked to visit a webpage from their computer, and to download a remote control tool that will allow the engineer to access their system to perform “repair work”.
Once in control of the computer, the “engineer” may call up the computer’s event log and show a number of scary looking (but completely harmless) alerts. They will then suggest downloading further tools that allow them to fix these errors.
Unfortunately these tools are actually malware that will steal valuable information from the victim’s computer – particularly online banking details and passwords. The victim may feel that the engineer has done them a favor, but the reality is that they have invited the hacker to steal from them.
There are several ways you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of this scam. These four tips will help keep you safe:
Microsoft or Panda (for example) never ring customers to inform them of security problems. These companies may provide assistance by telephone, but they never call you first. In fact, unless you pay for a third party technical support service, no one should call you about problems with your computer or router.
No matter how urgent the issue sounds, anyone claiming to be calling about PC security problems is lying.
Never give your account numbers or passwords to anyone over the phone or the Internet unless you are 100% sure who they are. If you are in any doubt at all, hang up. Keep in mind that fraudulent activities are profitable for the bad guys.
A good rule to follow for any incoming call: never hand over your credit card or bank details. Just don’t do it!
The Telephone Support Scam preys on people’s insecurity about their lack of tech knowledge. It is very easy to be a victim, and the best defence is sharing knowledge – telling other people about this scam, and what the criminals are doing. It is much easier to put the phone down if you know that the call is a scam.
You should also consider reporting the scam to the company being investigated. If you do, make sure you find the right details though.
Do not forget to use antivirus protection for all your devices. If your device is protected by an anti-malware toolkit, it will not be generating security errors online or anywhere else. So you know that someone claiming you have a problem is also lying.
If your computer does not have an up-to-date security toolkit installed, you must act now – download a free trial of Panda Security to get started.
Most social engineering attacks can be avoided by taking a second to think through the implications of what you are being told. You must not allow yourself to be bullied into making what could be a very costly mistake.
For more useful tips and advice about staying safe online, please check out the Panda Security knowledge base.
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RSA feels like a mashup of giant tech Titans steadily swallowing up the little guys to make one massive, unholy tech monster. But how does that really work for small businesses as customers, and the rest of us?
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Mobile gaming is huge! According to a report recently released by market research firm SuperData, the global mobile gaming sales revenue in 2016 was over $40 billion. The mobile gaming market is now bigger than the global tea market and the global naval market. According to SuperData, the trend will only increase as mobile gaming is getting the support of the emerging multi-billion VR industry.
In 2016 more than 97% of VR headsets sold were for mobile devices. Having in mind the price Oculus, Sony and HTC are offering for their flag products; it is not a surprise that budget solutions such as Google cardboard and Samsung Gear VR ended up accounting for almost all VR headsets sold last year.
While maritime safety and tea are losing the battle against Candy Crush Saga and Pokemon GO, the security of the people enjoying the perks of their ultra-powerful mobile handsets might be compromised.
It may sound tempting to be able to teleport yourself onto a roller coaster while sitting on the couch at home, but games which break the perception of the presence could be dangerous. Similar to motion sickness, some VR players tend to experience virtual reality sickness. Stop gaming immediately should you start feeling disoriented or you have symptoms such as a headache or nausea. There are reported cases of people who lost their lives while hunting Pokémons so augmented reality could be dangerous too. Keep your eyes open for the surrounding area!
You’ve finally found the most amazing mobile game in the world – it has amazing graphics, it is real time, and the game is endorsed by your favourite celebrity! What could go wrong? A lot of things, such as the status of your bank account. Mobile games sometimes have in-app purchases, make sure you check before getting an additional weapon or skipping an advert that is currently playing it may end up costing you real money. Unfortunately, they do not accept doubloons in the real world, so the more prepared you are, the better.
It is a well-known fact that 90% of the children, aged 12 years or less, are mobile gamers (using their cell phone or a borrow from a family member) and these phones need to be protected to avoid the potentials risks of uncontrolled purchases.
Make sure to always download applications from the Play Store or the App Store. Sometimes apps connect to your social media profiles, and they can see personal information such as your full name, date of birth, location and even your home address.
If the app you have on your phone is not approved, you may end up not only sharing all this valuable information with the wrong people, but you may install a virus on your phone that can lurk around your mobile handset and steal your passwords. Stay alerted and stick to the approved apps on the Play Store and the App Store, and even then, use services that allow you to scan the applications that you are installing on your phone.
To use this feature, you must set an unlock PIN and select the apps you want to lock. Should you forget your PIN, you’ll be able to reset it through your Panda Security account.
Children already spend more time on the Internet than watching TV. Their favourite content is on emerging video platforms such as YouTube. A huge percentage of children nowadays have smartphones, and even though regulations tend to be strict, you don’t want your kid to be able to access chat rooms and content that is not monitored by you. Predators thrive on new ways of getting in touch with vulnerable people, and mobile gaming is one of those places.
Some games have chat rooms where people can socialize. Relying on admins may not be a full solution so make sure you know where you and your kids go while taking a breath before launching the next game on your cell phone. Always check out the PEGI ratings of an app before you let your child access it unless you want your 13-year-old son to get better than you on Texas hold ’em poker. Kids need restriction so don’t forget to use a PIN-protect access to the apps you want to control.
Panda’s Mobile Security for Android has a feature that allows you to PIN-protect access to your apps. The feature comes with privacy protection that prevents from unauthorized access to messaging apps and social media sites. The feature also comes with parental control functions that help you restrict the little ones from accessing certain apps, games, etc.
Hackers are cruel and unfortunately technology savvy. They are always finding new ways of approaching you and your loved ones. Innovation is what they do best, and even though antivirus companies tend to be a step ahead of them, not everyone has protection. As mobile phones and mobile gaming are taking an increasingly bigger part of our lives, we firmly advise you to keep your eyes open and always bear in mind that sometimes even the App Store and the Play Store might miss something and let you install an infected app.
While hackers keep finding new ways to get your money, we are solely focused on preventing them from being successful by constantly adapting to their new habits.
Luckily, Panda Security offers the best mobile security protection for all your devices including cell phones and tablets. Check out our security service solution here and be protected while gaming on your mobile device.
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Researchers have described how ransomware could potentially attack industrial control systems (ICS), and demonstratied how new malware threats might target core infrastructure, holding entire cities hostage.
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A new government scheme will be rolled out to thousands of 14-18 year olds across the UK, encouraging them to take part in extracurricular cybersecurity clubs.
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The United States is losing on the cyber-battlefield and face a bleak threat landscape, according to DHS chairman Michael McCaul. But, he says, there is still hope to turn things around.
There is a view in the media of the current security market that assumes a split between first-generation and technologies using next-generation signature-less detection.
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The rise of online dating has been phenomenal. In fact, a research paper published by the Association for Psychological Research found that online dating services are now the second most popular way for people to find love.
For those hoping to begin a romantic relationship this is great news – there’s a huge number of people available who are also looking for love.
For those hoping to begin a romantic relationship this is great news – there’s a huge number of people available who are also looking for love.
But just like every other online activity, you need to be smart.
Many people run into problems because they share too much information up front. Including your email address or personally identifiable information in your profile picture gives away details that cybercriminals can later exploit.
Instead, use the communications tools provided by the dating service to share information once you are sure your date is trustworthy.
We all love to receive Valentines cards, and criminals will use this against us. Never download ecards from dubious websites because they may contain malware that will infect your computer, stealing personal data.
You can help protect yourself against dodgy ecards with robust antivirus software. Scan all your incoming email attachments to avoid becoming a victim.
Download a free trial of Panda Security now to ensure you are protected.
Dating sites are a great way to meet people and find love across the world. But beware of anyone asking you to pay for them to visit you – they may be using a phishing scam to steal more than your heart.
Never give your bank details to anyone online, no matter how hard you have fallen for them. Some unscrupulous scammers will take that information and use it to empty your bank account.
It’s always hard to remain objective when you are falling in love, and that’s why criminals target dating sites. But to stay safe, you must follow these three simple rules, or risk becoming another statistic.
The good news is that by keeping personal information private, avoiding suspicious email attachments, and not sharing your bank details, you have everything in place for when you do find “the one”.
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