Financial security tips for the internet
Friday, 10 Aug 2007 16:52
The House of Lords Science and Technology committee has issued a warning to unwary internet users, stating in a report issued today that crime on the web is rampant; the equivalent of a virtual 'wild west'.
"Today's 'bad guys' belong to organised crime groups, are highly skilful, specialised, and focused on profit. They want to stay invisible, and so far they have largely succeeded," the report by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report warns.
Common scams involve 'phishing', where fake emails request account information and the use of 'trojan' programs to gain illicit access to computers.
However, online money transfer site PayPal argues criminals can be defeated.
"The security of people who use the internet and shop online must become a top priority, not just for the government but also software vendors, if the ongoing threat of e-crime is to be culled," said Cristina Hoole of PayPal.
To assist in the fight against fraudsters the company has issued the following advice to internet users:
Only use secure websites, i.e. those beginning with the term "https". The S stands for secure and should ensure the site is safe.
Beware of false links; moving your mouse over the link shows the destination in the status bar of your browser. This ensures you are not taken to a destination that could install "spyware" on your computer, which could potentially monitor the information you enter, including passwords.
Check attachments. If it ends ".exe" ensure you know who sent it and exactly what is enclosed.
"Government, the police, financial services providers, internet providers, retailers, must all work together to fight the criminals who will otherwise continue to target online consumers with increasingly complicated scams," concluded Ms Hoole.