Four myths about cyber-security
Leading computer security experts Symantec has just published its 15th Internet Security Threat Report, which examines the current state of online risks to consumers and businesses alike. Here we summarize the key findings and discuss four myths associated with cybercrime.
In Symantec’s latest Internet Security Threat Report, the software giant found attackers are now leveraging the wealth of personal information openly shared on social networking sites, like Facebook, to engineer smarter attacks on both individuals and companies.
Symantec says there were more than 3.2 billion cyber attacks in 2009 alone — equal to one attack for every two people in the world. The computer security company says they blocked an average of about 100 potential attacks every second.
And so Symantec and Sync are here to present four of the most popular myths about online threats and cybercrime:
Myth 1: While you may think that hackers are super-smart, nerdy computer scientists who live in their parents’ basement, these days ANYONE can be a hacker. Easy-to-get and inexpensive “Hacker Kits” are on the rise letting any computer user get into the lucrative world of cybercrime.
Myth 2: “I’ll know if my computer has a virus – It will be obvious! There will be pop-up windows, things will look weird and it will be really slow.” – The reality is that hackers don’t want you to know you’ve been infected – a good parasite never kills its host. Your computer could be under the control of a cybercriminal half a world away and you might never know.
Myth 3: “Spam is a nuisance at worst” – In fact, Spam accounts for more than 88% of all e-mail traffic and can be used to deliver infections to your computer and steal your personal information.
Myth 4: “Cybercriminals are looking to clean out big businesses and rich people” – Nope – once they get your account information, cybercriminals may take out or charge small amounts over time so that you’re less likely to notice, but they do it in bulk so they still reap big profits.
On a related note, check out this funny video, titled “Heist,” on how cybercriminals work:
First, I take issue with your term of “hacker” these wannabes are not hackers at all. We who grew up making our own computers, coding in Assembler, learning to solder, and have the burn marks to prove it are the real hackers. And we take great offence to wannabes who think by taking a ready made program, someone else’s coding, using it as if they are the knowledgeable one is false and laughable. The etymology means: a person who wants or aspires to be someone or something else or who tries to look or act like someone else.
Secondly, I have advocated for many years the necessity of secure computing environments be it corporate or personal. This is why nothing beats having the right software, a physical and software firewall, limiting ones exposure to social networking and not opening errant e-mail, pictures or video whose origin is forwarded through countless unknown streams.
Thirdly, using full disk encryption is simple to use and affords the very best protection of your data. Even on a home computer there is too much personal information that can be easily glean. Identity theft is a major problem around the world, perhaps no place more so than in the U.S.A. where identity theft is a multi-billion dollar business. This is happening to rich and poor alike.
Fourth, Symantec is a great company whose business is to ensure your protection against the evils of this world. That is not being melodramatic, but rather factual. Their support staff are second to none and well worth talking to if the need should arise. Are they perfect, of course not, no one or company is.
Finally, read the Symantec report it will be an eye opener to you. You may think you know what is going on out there but you do not. The report is an easy read and should be a must read. Share it with your kids too; they must know what is going on and the dangers of cyberspace.
Computers are relatively cheap these days, have one that is dedicated to the Internet and one for home use. Setup the Internet computer so that you can wipe it clean every few months, load the original backed up set-up files and voila your back in business in a few minutes. If you need to transfer files do so through the USB or via another method. There are many ways and combinations to choose from.
Thank you Marc, for putting this very important message on the front burner, it unfortunately needs all too frequent repeating.
This is a very interesting article.