| We've known for some time that the long-haired, lowly, | | | | network to extract usernames and passwords. Once |
| pot-smoking, havoc-reeking hacker, sitting alone in his | | | | the criminals have full access, they use the breached |
| mom's basement, hacking for fun and fame is no | | | | system as their own, storing the stolen data and |
| more. He cut his hair and has now graduated into a full | | | | eventually turning it into cash. |
| time professional criminal hacker, hacking for | | | | Meanwhile, criminal hackers have created |
| government secrets and financial gain. | | | | approximately 1.6 million security threats, according to |
| His contacts are global, many from Russia and | | | | Symantec's Internet Security Threat Report. 90% of |
| Eastern Europe, and they include brilliant teens, | | | | these attacks were designed to steal personal |
| 20-somethings, all the way up to clinical psychologists | | | | information including names, addresses and credit card |
| who are organized, international cyber criminals. | | | | details. Almost every single American has had their |
| We are in the middle of a cold cyber crime war. | | | | data compromised in some way. |
| Their sole motivation is money and information and | | | | Unsuspecting computer users who do not update their |
| they either find their way inside networks due to flaws | | | | PC's basic security, including Windows updates, critical |
| in the applications, or they work on their victims | | | | security patches or anti-virus definitions often become |
| psychologically and trick them into entering usernames | | | | infected as part of a botnet. Botnets are used to |
| and passwords, or clicking links. | | | | execute many of the attacks on unprotected |
| According to a new Verizon report, a staggering 285 | | | | networks. |
| million records were compromised in 2008, which | | | | The same study shows computer users were hit by |
| exceeds total losses for 2004-2007 combined. As | | | | 349 billion spam and phishing messages. Many were |
| many as 93% of the breaches were targeted hacks | | | | tricked into giving up personal information. It is common |
| occurring at financial institutions. | | | | sense not to plug data into an email that appears to be |
| Hackers made $10 million by hacking RBS Worldpay's | | | | from your bank, asking to update your account. |
| system, then loading up blank dummy cards and gift | | | | Attacks directed towards mobile phones are also |
| cards, and sending mules to use them at ATMs. The | | | | rising. "Phexting" is when a text message phishes for |
| entire scheme took less than one day to pull off. | | | | personal data. Just hit delete. |
| Many of these hacks occur due to flaws in the design | | | | Much of the data stolen is out of your hands. So invest |
| of web applications. The criminals send out "sniffers," | | | | in identity theft protection, and keep your McAfee |
| which seek out those flaws. Once they are found, the | | | | Internet security software updated. |
| attack begins. Malware is generally implanted on the | | | | |