How safe do you feel using the Internet? Are there ways to protect yourself from criminals attempting to access your personal information so you and your family can enjoy the benefits cyberspace offers?
According to the RCMP and the FBI, criminals have found a way to spam your e-mails and infect your system with malware and malicious software called “Game Over.”
This program allows the criminals to access your usernames and passwords and override your bank’s financial authentication system. Game Over is a new variant of Zeus malware, which was created a number of years ago to obtain banking information.
Rural Crime Watch (RCW) has posted a number phishing attempts on our web page, the most recent being a scam where the sender has obtained your e-mail address and addresses the message using your name. Do not open.
In another scam the sender purports to be associated with your bank and states there is a problem with your account and wants you to click on the link to confirm their information. Do not do it!
Internet safety has to be foremost with your family security. The RCMP states that 96 per cent of youngsters are on the Internet daily. They use it to update their status on social media, text each other at school and for school research … all with a handheld device. This access ease has made it easy for pedophiles and others who will take advantage of your children and not break a sweat or blink an eye at their deception and cruelty.
As with all your child’s activities, know where, when and with whom they are interacting. If you include your children in the danger evaluation and create a family plan, they will not feel you are being over protective or overbearing. First and foremost you need to be computer savvy yourself.
Learn texting lingo at www.netlingo.com and on our web site www.ruralcrimewatch.com under Bulletins. If you are the recipient of a scam or phishing attempt, share with RCW that we can alert others.
Jonathan McCormick and Denny Fahrentholz are columnists from Rural Crime Watch.
