Experts: Don’t fall into phishing net scam

Thursday April 28, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: Avoid being impulsive and practise safe online habits when you are on the Internet, says security expert and Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) secretary-general Peter Cassidy.
He added that the people could help reduce cyber crimes by being aware of phishing and electronic fraud.
“Do not be impulsive. It may be a different method but it is the same old con.
“Avoid giving out bank account numbers or details online.
“And do not open websites you are not sure of,” he said at the sidelines of APWG’s fifth annual international Counter-eCrime Opera­tions Summit here yesterday. The summit ends tomorrow.
Cassidy said Internet users should avoid clicking on suspicious links in their e-mail.
“Be wary of links and do not simply click on them.
“If you receive a supposed link for your mum’s holiday pictures, it will do you no harm to make a quick call and check with her.
“After all, even your mum or and old friend’s account can be tapped,” he added.

Cyber criminals, he said, were out to hack into the computer infrastructures to attack and compromise bank credentials to gain access to an individual’s financial account.
“Half of all compromised machines that we have detected were home computers with broadband connections.

“It is clear that the problem will not go away, but consumer education can help prevent it.”

Cassidy warned that one should not take cyber crimes lightly, although Malaysia was not a vector for broad international online crimes as yet.

Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/28/nation/8565875&sec=nation