World Cup scams: an early kick‑off
Amazingly, it was way back in 2011 that I came across my very first World Cup 2014 scam. Surely that merits a prize, or at least a pay-rise?
Scams
World Cup Phishing Scam hits FIFA 14 players through Instagram, Twitter
As the World Cup heads into its third week, there’s a new phishing scam to be aware of. EA Games’ FIFA 14 Ultimate Team has been targeted – not for the first time – by scammers offering new downloadable players.
TweetDeck flaw uncovered “by accident”
A vulnerability in the official Twitter client Tweetdeck left users vulnerable to attack, forcing thousands of users to retweet cryptic lines of code to other users. Twitter repeatedly shut down the service, despite assurances the flaw had been ‘fixed’.
World Cup scams: team tactics to keep you safe
With the World Cup in Brazil poised to begin, the whole world is watching - and that includes cybercriminals. Here's the latest on scam sites, phishing and how to enjoy surfing safely during the competition.
Phishers turn to Dropbox links as fresh bait for victims
Convincing-looking emails where the victim is directed to click on a Dropbox link to download a supposedly unpaid invoice (and other classic phishing tricks) are circulating widely on the internet.
iPhone and Apple ransom incidents? Don’t delay locking down your i‑stuff
Some users of Apple iPhones, iPads and Macs have been getting strange wake up calls and unsettling messages demanding a ransom for access to their devices. Now is the time to make your i-stuff is locked down, even if you don't live in Australia.
Technology giants join forces to battle tech support phone scams
Google, Facebook, Twitter and AOL have joined forces to stamp out fake tech support services where customers are fooled into calling bogus technical support lines, where they are encouraged, not to fix their comptuer, but to install malware - or give away details crucial for identity theft.
How to protect children from in‑app purchase rip‑offs
Parents who simply hand an iPhone or iPad to a child and let them play a favorite game risk children buying expensive in-game items. But the new version of iOS has some great defenses built in.
The perfect job? Dream on! Five signs a job offer is a scam
Job scams are a permanent fixture in cyberspace. Anyone who has posted their resume online has offered cyber gangs two crucial pieces of information - one, a way to contact them, and two, the fact they're in need of a job.
Google offers refunds for buyers of fake Virus Shield app
Google is offering full refunds to buyers of the Virus Shield app which briefly topped the Android charts last week - but turned out to offer no protection whatsoever.
Cybercrime evolves as criminal gangs join forces with spies – report
Hackers targeting sensitive information or stealing from retailers work at such speed that customers often notice data breaches first - and for the first time, cybercriminals are ‘teaming up’ with spies, according to a new report.
“Virus Shield” app is top‑selling hit – but does absolutely nothing
Armed with an impressive-looking shield logo, security app Virus Shield shot to the top of the sales charts on Android last week. There was one, tiny, problem: the app was a fake.
“You have cancer” phishing attack shows how low cybercriminals will go
A “particularly unpleasant” phishing email purporting to be the results of a blood count report showing that the recipient may have cancer is circulating. It seems to be sent from a government health care organization - but it's a malware-laced scam.
More Mystery Shopper Misery
'Highly-paid' mystery shopper assignments where you're sent cashier's checks upfront can end up costing you a lot of money.
The Billgate Foundation – the fall for money, eh many…
Recently it was announced that Satya Nadella will be Steve Ballmer’s successor as CEO of Microsoft. Of course for the cybercriminals this is the time to dust off and polish the good old Microsoft Lottery scam and update it.
Five ‘new friends’ to avoid like the plague on social networks
Befriending the wrong person on Facebook can hand a criminal the tools for an identity theft attack - and on LinkedIn, talking to the wrong ‘recruiter’ can lead to disaster.
How cybercriminals ‘market’ email attacks – and why LinkedIn lures are today’s prize phish
Cybercriminals ‘manage’ phishing emails using techniques similar to those used by marketing agencies, including the use of ‘test audiences’ to see how effective a particular email is, according to an email security specialist.
Netflix phish, tech support scam, same phrying pan
Yet another innovative tech support scam, using Netflix phishing to get remote access to the victim's system.
Cisco offers $300,000 for “visionary” solutions to defend ‘Internet of Things’
Networking giant Cisco has launched a “grand challenge” to invent a security solution for the “internet of things” - a broad term used to describe connected devices from industrial equipment to cars to smart home appliances.
Mark Brooks: How to spot an online dating scammer – and why it’s getting tougher
Mark Brooks of OnlinePersonalsWatch works with many online dating sites - and says that all of them are plagued by fake profiles, scammers and criminals looking for money, not love. A few simple steps can help ensure you don't fall for a fake...