| It would seem that the computer is becoming a | | | | look for. Don't be counted as one of the |
| bigger and bigger part of our lives each and | | | | careless! |
| every day. There's good reason for that | | | | |
| perception... it's true. One specific area | | | | From the analysis of Trend Micro, a company |
| that is becoming incredibly popular is online | | | | that specializes in computer security, you |
| banking. Customers love it because it is very | | | | can clearly see that the year 2004 was a |
| convenient and a great time saver. The banks | | | | record year for the distribution of |
| love it because it automates a great many | | | | computerized viruses: 30 attacks, 28 of which |
| functions for them and cuts down on their | | | | were medium risk and two high risk. Three |
| overhead. | | | | worms held the first position: Bagle, Mydoom |
| | | | and Netsky, which, together with their |
| The number one concern of anyone that deals | | | | variants, were the cause of 25 of the |
| with online banking should be security. | | | | registered attacks. |
| Putting your personal information over the | | | | |
| Internet can be risky, there is no denying | | | | Email was the preferred channel of diffusion |
| that. Fraud and identity theft have become | | | | used by the hackers, but some choose other |
| huge problems in the modern age. There are | | | | channels to illegally to create more serious |
| any number of hackers and thieves out there | | | | damage. The indiscriminate sending of email |
| in cyberspace just waiting to prey on | | | | messages and/or newsletters (Spam), without |
| innocent people. | | | | the consent of the receiver, is illegal. In |
| | | | some countries the authorities established |
| Fortunately for us, the financial | | | | that: to send email published without the |
| institutions of the world are very aware of | | | | consent of the receiver is illegal. If this |
| this problem and are working aggressively to | | | | activity is done systematically for profit, |
| combat it. There was a time when a bank's | | | | you also violate a criminal norm and could be |
| chief security concern was whether they would | | | | reported to the judicial authorities. |
| be robbed or not. I think we've all seen the | | | | |
| old movies about Bonnie & Clyde, John | | | | There are several sanctions, and in the worst |
| Dillinger and the like... to say nothing of | | | | cases, even imprisonment. The considerable |
| the daring train robberies of the wild west. | | | | damage that these activities have done to |
| Now banks face a new and much deadlier | | | | companies and people has been enormous. |
| challenge than ever before, and instead of | | | | Moreover, another tragedy called Phishing |
| wearing a mask and using a gun, the bad guys | | | | (the name given to the system that captures |
| are now invisible and use keyboards. | | | | information like passwords or other personal |
| | | | information) is used by many hackers that |
| Identity theft has now become so prevalent | | | | pretend to be reliable people seeking |
| that thieves are rifling through garbage to | | | | information. These hackers send false emails |
| attain any information that they can use to | | | | containing eBay, Pay Pal graphics and |
| steal from their unsuspecting victims. With | | | | official logos and also offer Banking and |
| this said, there are some simple, common | | | | Credit Card services. They ask for personal |
| sense approaches that will go along way to | | | | data, often your passwords or Credit Card |
| securing personal bank information. | | | | numbers, which ends up in the data bank of |
| | | | the hacker who had sent the false email. The |
| 1. Do not share your passwords with anyone. | | | | experts define this illegal practice as a |
| | | | form of "Social Engineering". |
| 2. Keep important documents locked in a safe | | | | |
| or safety deposit box. | | | | Europe and the United States have promoted |
| | | | two very distinct initiatives that will start |
| 3. Shred documents that you no longer need. | | | | at the same time. The intention is to defeat |
| | | | that virtual monster that has caused damage |
| 4. If you bank online, make sure your bank is | | | | amounting to millions of dollars. |
| using a secure, encrypted site (It's OK to | | | | |
| ask what security features they employ). | | | | "Safer Internet Plus" is the project carried |
| | | | forward in Europe. The main target of the |
| I trust that what you've read so far has been | | | | project is to beat Spam. The American project |
| informative. The following section should go | | | | on the other hand is called "Digital |
| a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty | | | | PhishNet" and is based on the collaboration |
| that may remain. | | | | of several institutions, such as the FBI and |
| | | | private companies. The target is to identify |
| 5. When using an ATM make sure no one can see | | | | and to bring to justice those people |
| the codes you enter. | | | | responsible for online fraud. |
| | | | |
| These are a just a few of the things that can | | | | Hopefully, as we gain a better understanding |
| be done to keep banking information secure | | | | of the overall threat posed by internet |
| and to avoid possible crimes against you. | | | | hackers and other illegal user of the |
| While many of these suggestions seem to be | | | | internet, we will be better able to counter |
| glaringly obvious, all to many times they are | | | | the attack. Only time will tell! |
| taken for granted or just plain ignored. It | | | | |
| is at these times when the criminals are at | | | | Take time to consider the points presented |
| their best. Individuals that grow careless | | | | above. What you learn may help you overcome |
| and complacent are exactly what criminals | | | | your hesitation to take action. |