Scam Alert:
Hacked in the Parking Lot
The newest twist in computer
consOn this
website, we have discussed many ways
hackers have tried to pry your
personal financial information from
you. Now, hackers have devised an
ingenious way to unleash an
identity-stealing computer virus
from about the last place you'd
expect an online attack: a parking
lot.
Reports from
North Dakota authorities state that
scammers are placing phony parking
tickets on cars, which direct their
owners to an "official" website that
claims to have photos of the alleged
violation. Once they go to the
website, victims inadvertently
download a nasty virus that can
quickly cost them plenty.
Several drivers
found tickets on cars they had
parked at shopping malls, hospital
and grocery stores. Some went to the
designated website - and their
computers were compromised.
Potential
dangers include:
TRICKING YOU
INTO BUYING A FAKE ANTIVIRUS
SOFTWARE- The website instructs you
to install a program to see photos
of your car. The program then
produces a message that announces
your computer has a virus, and
you're offered worthless "repair"
software, that can be downloaded and
often priced at fifty dollars or
more
CAPTURING
KEYSTROKES TO REVEAL PASSWORDS AND
ACCOUNT NUMBERS- Usually, the
software that is downloaded from a
fake site allows the scammer to copy
your keystrokes, which allows them
access to your on-line banking
accounts, and they can remotely wire
money from them.
Unlike other
malware attacks, this scam doesn't
depend on you to open a corrupted
e-mail sent by a stranger. Instead,
it provides bait to lead you right
to the virus. How can you protect
yourself?
AVOID
UNFAMILIAR WEBSITES- Don't visit a
strange website simply because you
get an e-mail or letter telling you
to. If you do visit the site, never
download or install new programs
there unless you are sure you can
trust the source.
BE WARY OF
DOT-COM CONS- One giveaway on the
parking ticket website, other than
some typos is that the URL ended in
".com." Online addresses of most
official agencies end in ".gov."
CONSIDER A
"SECURITY SUITE"- These protection
programs - from McAfee and Norton -
cost about twenty dollars more than
traditional antivirus and
antispyware software, but it will
add another line of security for you
and your computer.
To learn more about online
security, visit: