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Industry Insight
23 March 2007
Dramatic increase in online identity theft - McAfee
BY
STAFF WRITER
, ITWEB
[
Johannesburg, 23 March 2007
] -
McAfee has released a white paper from McAfee Avert Labs highlighting global identity theft trends, including what it says is a dramatic increase in online and computer-based identity theft.
According to the report, the number of keyloggers has increased by 250% between January 2004 and May 2006. Additional findings show that the number of phishing alerts tracked by the Anti-Phishing Working Group has multiplied 100-fold over the same period of time.
The report also provides practical guidelines that minimise the risk of identity theft to help users protect themselves and prevent this increasingly common crime.
"Identity theft is a global phenomenon that threatens all of us, which means we all need to become more aware, more vigilant and less trusting," says Chris van Niekerk, regional director: Africa at McAfee. "By learning where we are vulnerable, and how and why criminals engage in identity theft, we can then take the necessary precautions to avoid being victimised."
More information about the ITWeb Security Summit, which takes place from 22 to 25 May at Vodaworld, is available online here.
Van Niekerk urges users to watch out for phishing scams, such as fraudulent e-mails and Web sites that impersonate legitimate businesses to trick people into revealing personal information. Also avoid clicking on links in e-mails to visit Web sites, rather manually type a company's correct Web address into the browser, he says.
Van Niekerk says companies should install comprehensive security software and services, including anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall protection and keep it up to date. Use caution when opening e-mail attachments, regardless of who sent them, he warns.
Take care before sharing e-mail addresses, advises van Niekerk. Permanently erase computer hard drives before disposing of old computers, and make sure Web sites are secure before visiting and providing personal information.
He recommends always using strong passwords and exercising caution when communicating through instant messaging.
The white paper, titled, "Identity Theft," is available for download at http://www.mcafee.com/us/threat_center/white_paper.html
Taking place from 22 25 May 2007 at Vodaworld, ITWeb's Second Annual Security Summit will bring together almost 30 international and local IT and security professionals, practitioners, industry experts and analysts. They will share their experiences, acquire knowledge and gain an understanding of the key tools, techniques and strategies needed to safeguard their organisations' most valuable asset information. International security guru and author, Bruce Schneier, and creator of the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) e-mail encryption protocol, Phil Zimmermann, will deliver the opening keynote addresses. More information about the event and delegate bookings is available online at www.securitysummit.co.za or by contacting Denise Breytenbach at (011) 807-3294 or denise@itweb.co.za.
Related stories:
McAfee Adds Support
Hole found in OpenBSD
Malaysia awards WiMax licences
According to the report, the number of keyloggers has increased by 250% between January 2004 and May 2006. Additional findings show that the number of phishing alerts tracked by the Anti-Phishing Working Group has multiplied 100-fold over the same period of time.
The report also provides practical guidelines that minimise the risk of identity theft to help users protect themselves and prevent this increasingly common crime.
"Identity theft is a global phenomenon that threatens all of us, which means we all need to become more aware, more vigilant and less trusting," says Chris van Niekerk, regional director: Africa at McAfee. "By learning where we are vulnerable, and how and why criminals engage in identity theft, we can then take the necessary precautions to avoid being victimised."
ITWeb Security Summit 2007
More information about the ITWeb Security Summit, which takes place from 22 to 25 May at Vodaworld, is available online here.
Van Niekerk says companies should install comprehensive security software and services, including anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall protection and keep it up to date. Use caution when opening e-mail attachments, regardless of who sent them, he warns.
Take care before sharing e-mail addresses, advises van Niekerk. Permanently erase computer hard drives before disposing of old computers, and make sure Web sites are secure before visiting and providing personal information.
He recommends always using strong passwords and exercising caution when communicating through instant messaging.
The white paper, titled, "Identity Theft," is available for download at http://www.mcafee.com/us/threat_center/white_paper.html
ITWeb Security Summit 2007
Taking place from 22 25 May 2007 at Vodaworld, ITWeb's Second Annual Security Summit will bring together almost 30 international and local IT and security professionals, practitioners, industry experts and analysts. They will share their experiences, acquire knowledge and gain an understanding of the key tools, techniques and strategies needed to safeguard their organisations' most valuable asset information. International security guru and author, Bruce Schneier, and creator of the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) e-mail encryption protocol, Phil Zimmermann, will deliver the opening keynote addresses. More information about the event and delegate bookings is available online at www.securitysummit.co.za or by contacting Denise Breytenbach at (011) 807-3294 or denise@itweb.co.za.
Related stories:
McAfee Adds Support
Hole found in OpenBSD
Malaysia awards WiMax licences
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