Stranger danger

The BBC ran a series this week about internet crime to see what the average net user is up against, and it's a good read.  In the first article, they logged what tried to attack a honeypot PC.  They had to wipe the machine after the second article because they allowed it to get infected with spyware, trojans, viruses, and other junk, even the USB drive attached to the machine was affected.  The third article talks to the thieves who steal and sell credit card numbers, bank details, and PayPal accounts.  Finally, they looked at phishing scams.  They also published a glossary of terms.  There are also a couple of other articles about the Honeynet project and botnets, but these are the most useful.

Tracking down high tech crime


Trapping hackers in the honeypot


Tackling the hackers face-to-face


In detail: How to spot a phish

Does anyone remember the old "Stranger Danger!" TV ads for kids in England in the 80s.  They just need a little updating.  Don't trust strangers online, they want to do bad things to your computer.  Don't take candy or attachments from them, however tempting it may appear, and don't buy anything from them.  If in doubt, hang up the phone or delete the email.  Don't go with a stranger to their home or website.  Keep your doors and Windows locked.  Play and browse safely at well-known, brightly lit sites.  And use your common sense!

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