|
 |
Instant messaging - If you use it, you and yours are the
Hacker's newest targets
by
Richard Rossbauer
|
From the first days
that my Firewalls-and-virus-protection website went online a few
years ago, it contained cautions on the potential dangers lurking in
chat rooms.
My grand-daughters are accomplished Internet chatters, capable of
carrying on rapid fire conversations with seven or eight, or even
more of their friends at the same time. Many of these are classmates
they haven't seen for maybe up to 30 minutes since they all left
school, or got off the school bus together.
My major concern then was the potential of
predators lurking in
their chat rooms, trying to entice these teenagers into divulging
personal information that could lead to all types of dangerous
situations.
Alerting these young people to the threats, and reminding them of
the urgent need to practice 'Safe Surfing Habits' has kept them out
of harm's way so far.
But now they face even greater dangers! Ones they can't see.
During the past few months, there has been a major increase in
activity by Hackers, virus writers, and online spies attacking the
tools used by nearly all 'Instant Messagers' (users of Instant
Messaging services).
It's no longer just the teen age 'chatters' that are in danger.
Whole families are threatened.
Chat room Buddies, good or bad were at least out in the open,
although buddy names or handles were really only disguises.
The Hackers and online identity thieves don't advertise their
presence, even in masquerade. They just use IM to spread viruses,
spyware and trojan horses. All of which can lead to capturing
personal information, Credit card and bank account numbers, and even
Identity Theft.
Yahoo, AOL, and Microsoft appear to be the main targets. They seem
to be making some efforts to stem the flow of poison. The News Media
has been picking up on the growing dangers
But, is that really enough?
My concern, and one that should be yours, is how to help the
hundreds of thousands of teen age 'chatters' become aware of what's
happening to one of their favorite pastime pursuits?
I'm sure they don't want to be responsible for endangering their
families.
I'm a very concerned Grandparent with many grandchildren. I feel
that this requires more than a website, newsletter or Blog.
Many IM users are unprepared for these IM attacks. Market research
company IDC estimates that by 2008, about 450 million people will
be using an IM product.
Hackers are already taking advantage of problems with today's IM
systems. People not familiar with these new threats could easily
open a new, harmless looking IM message that pops up on their
screen. With one well intentioned click of their mouse on a Hackers
phony message, they could get infected.
How to protect yourself on IM
CNET News.com recommends that you take the same protective measures
you now use in opening e-mail and adopt them into your IM habits.
Use a secure browser
Know your merchant
Never open a link or attachment sent to you via
IM until first making sure its legitimate.
Check and Double-check sender
Protect your PC. Use firewall software to limit
the kinds of data that can be sent
to you over IM.
Don't chat with strangers
Stay alert. Check with IM software providers to
ensure that your security
applications are patched and up to date.
Yahoo recently confirmed that its service, Yahoo Messenger, was
being targeted by a scam. According to reports, attackers send
members a message containing a link to a fake Web site. The fake
site looks like an official Yahoo site and asks the user to log in
by entering a Yahoo ID and password.
The scam is convincing because the original message seems to arrive
from someone on the victim's friends list. Should the recipient of
the phishing message enter his details on the Web site, the
attackers can gain access to any personal information stored in the
victim's profile and, more important, access to the victim's contact
list and IM friends list.
Yahoo said it has already put preventative measures in place to help
protect its IM users from attacks (April 2005)
America Online reports that it is working to add new protections to
its (IM) applications (April 2005)
Microsoft is employing technological measures to help fight the
problem in the next version of Messenger. (April 2005)
PLEASE - When you use Instant Messaging, BE
EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS and
practice Safe Messaging Habits. Ask your Chat Room and IM Buddies to
do the same so they don't infect your computer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard started his "Firewalls
and Virus Protection" website and "Security
Alert News Reporter" to help everyday Internet users
navigate safely through the Cyber Space that has become a 'Cyber
Jungle', loaded with ambushes and booby traps. He promotes his "Computer
Security Awareness Campaign" thru his website at
https://www.firewalls-and-virus-protection.com
Please help us educate and protect the unwary by sharing this
article.
Reprint it if you have a newsletter, website or ezine. Copy
or
print it to give to your friends. It may be used at will so long as
no edits or changes are made to the content and links, and the full
attribute box is included. We'd appreciate a short note telling when
and where you have posted it. Thank you....Richard
(mailto:Richard@richardpresents.com)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Register to receive the News
Reporter at our website
and get your free copy of the eReport:
23
Critical Alerts You Should Consider when Maintaining Your Computer
Security
and Protecting Your Personal Safety
Please try to visit
https://www.firewalls-and-virus-protection.com where many of the
issues mentioned in this brief article are addressed in greater
detail. A few minutes browsing there now might
save you many hours of agony and grief later.
Thank you.
Richard Rossbauer
www.RichardPresents.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 Take part
in our Computer Security Awareness Campaign by
Sharing this with a friend
Close Window |
