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