holiday scams

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William Mann, Chief Information Officer Holiday Internet Scams To Avoid! Borough of West Chester Information Technology Training Session 4, Holiday Bonus Edition December 6, 2011

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Page 1: Holiday scams

William Mann, Chief Information Officer

Holiday Internet

Scams To Avoid!

Borough of West ChesterInformation Technology Training Session 4, Holiday Bonus Edition

December 6, 2011

Page 2: Holiday scams

Many of us are already shopping online, or will be soon, for the holidays. "Cyber-criminals rub their hands with glee when they think of the holidays”.

Shopping Online, Opening E-Cards and responding to unsolicited emails offering “special deals” can be very dangerous.

Page 3: Holiday scams

You need to stay one step ahead of this season's cyber-scrooges, and make sure you have protection for all of your internet-enabled devices.

If you do not, you risk giving the bad guys the biggest gift of all – your

personal and financial

information."

Page 4: Holiday scams

Mobile MalwareMore of us are using our phones for shopping, toresearch products or to redeem coupons. Today Android phones are "most at risk," citing "a 76 percent increase in malware targeted at Android devices in the second quarter of 2011 making it the most targeted smartphone platform."

Page 5: Holiday scams

Mobile Malware

A new type of malware has recently been found that targets QR (quick response) codes. QR codes are the digital barcodes that consumers scan with their smartphone to find good deals, or just to learn about products they want to buy.

Page 6: Holiday scams

Malicious Mobile Apps

These are mobile apps designed to steal information from smartphones, or send out expensive text messages without a user’s consent.

These dangerous apps are usually offered for free, and masquerade as fun applications, such as games.

Page 7: Holiday scams

Malicious Mobile Apps

For example, last year, 4.6 million Android smart-phone users downloaded a suspicious wallpaper app that collected and transmitted user data to a site in China.

Page 8: Holiday scams

Phony Facebook PromotionsWho doesn’t want to win some free prizes or get agreat deal around the Holidays?" One recent popular scam promised two free airline tickets.

This “scam” required participants to fill out multiple surveys requesting personal information.

Never Ever do this!

Page 9: Holiday scams

Scareware: Fake Antivirus / Security Update

"Scareware is the fake antivirus software that tricks someone into believing that their computer is at risk or already infected so that they agree to download and pay for phony software.”

Page 10: Holiday scams

Scareware: Fake Antivirus / Security Update

These fake security programs are one of the mostcommon and dangerous Internet threats today, with an estimated 1 million victims falling forthis scam each day."

Page 11: Holiday scams

Holiday ScreensaversMany of us love our screensavers for special times of the years like Christmas. But some of the free ones are loaded with more than holiday cheer. For example a recent search for a Santa screensaver that promises to let you 'fly with Santa in 3D' is malicious.

Page 12: Holiday scams

Holiday Phishing Scams

Cyber scammers know that most people are busy around the holidays so they tailor their emails and social messages with holiday themes in the hopes of tricking recipients into revealing personal information.

Page 13: Holiday scams

Holiday Phishing Scams A common holiday phishing scam is aphony notice from UPS, saying you have apackage and need to fill out an attached form to get it delivered. This particular one made the rounds through our email last season.

The form may ask for personal or financial details that will go straight into the hands of the cyber scammer.

Page 14: Holiday scams

Online Coupon ScamsWhether you're an extreme couponer or anoccasional one, the holiday season is rife with good online offers as well as malicious ones.

Scammers know that by offering an irresistible online coupon, they can get people to hand over some of their personal information..

Page 15: Holiday scams

Online Coupon ScamsOne popular scam is to lure consumers withthe hope of winning a 'free' iPad. Consumersclick on a 'phishing' site, which can result in an email spam.

Another is that consumers are offered an online coupon code and once they agree, are asked to provide personal information, including credit-card details, passwords and other financial data.

Page 16: Holiday scams

Hotel Wrong TransactionIn one recent example, a scammer sent out emails that appeared to be from a hotel, claiming that a 'wrong transaction' had been discovered on the recipient’s credit card.  It then asked them to fill out an attached refund form.

Once opened, the attachment downloadsmalware onto their machine.

Page 17: Holiday scams

“It” Gift Scams"When a gift is hot, not only do sellers mark up the price, but scammers will also start advertising these gifts on rogue websites & social networks, even if they don’t have them.

Consumers could wind up paying for an item and giving away credit card details only to receive nothing in return."

Page 18: Holiday scams

Protecting Yourself

Only download mobile apps from official app stores, such as iTunes and the Android Market, and read user reviews

before downloading them.

Now that I scared everyone who are some tips for protecting yourself online!

Page 19: Holiday scams

Protecting Yourself Be extra vigilant when reviewing and responding to emails.

Watch out for too-good-to-be-true offers on social networks. Never agree to reveal your information just to participate in a promotion.

Don’t accept requests on social networks from people you don’t know in real life. Wait to post pictures

and comments about your vacation

until you’ve already returned home.

Page 20: Holiday scams

Protecting Yourself If you are asked to copy and paste some code

into your web browser to get a prize or special offer, do NOT do it. The code is usually a javascript which WILL create all kinds of havoc for you.

Have a current anti-virus program that

you keep up to date.

Page 21: Holiday scams

Protecting Yourself

Run an anti-malware program on a regular basis.

Download programs, especially anti-virus and anti-malware, from reputable websites not websites or warning messages that pop up on your screen.

Page 22: Holiday scams

What is a Computer Virus?

Here are some recommended safe, free and effective anti-virus programs.

• Microsoft Security Essentials• AVG Anti-Virus 2012*• Avira Free Antivirus*

* Both of these applications also have paid versions.

The term computer virus is often used interchangeably with malware, though the two don't actually have the same meaning. In the strictest sense, a virus is a program that copies itself and infects a PC, spreading from one file to another, and then from one PC to another when the files are copied or shared.

Short Description

A virus is a program that copies itself and infects a PC, spreading to other PC’s.

Page 23: Holiday scams

What is Malware?

Here are some recommended safe, free and effective

malware programs.

• Spybot• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

The word Malware is short for malicious software, and is a general term used to describe all of the viruses, worms, spyware, and pretty much anything that is specifically designed to cause harm to your PC or steal your information.

Short Description

Malware is any program that is designed to steal personal information.