Why you should be careful about the sites you visit

MANILA - Filipinos are becoming careless about the sites they visit or the links they click, according to data from a US-based global security software company released Tuesday.

Trend Micro, citing its researchers based in the Philippines, revealed that there has been a more than 30 percent spike in the number of malicious URLs clicked in the country during the year's third quarter (July to September).


This, according to the company, leaves Filipinos more vulnerable to malware --a type of software used to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems.

It also helped Philippines rank 7th in the list of countries that fell prey to ransomware --a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their computers.

Victims of this particular malicious software are forced to pay a ransom via certain online payment methods to make their devices usable again.

Myla Pilao, Marketing Director at Trend Labs --the local arm of Trend Micro-- explained that the reason companies and enterprises in the country are vulnerable to malwares is simply because of outdated security software.

"Updating software in a timely manner remains a challenging process. However, enterprises have to stay protected against these threats. Given how easily malware can affect critical business operations, it is best for these organizations to invest in technologies that will help them secure their endpoints and systems," she said in a statement.

Trend Micro also warned that malware in the country, mostly, is still passed on through traditional methods such as infected USBs.

As a preventive measure, the company encourages businesses to invest more in computer security, and that users should be extra mindful of their browsing habits.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 security tips for gamers

MANILA – Security software firm Kaspersky Lab shared some tips for gamers as it released data about the number of gaming-related attacks globally.

In a statement, Kaspersky Lab said it recorded a total of 11.7 million attacks on gamers in 2013, with users hit by 34,000 gaming malware every day on average.

Russian gamers were most at risk with more than 8 million attempts on them by hackers, followed by Vietnam (503,947), China (376,058), India (207,245), Spain (139,078), Poland (127,583), Turkey (121,164), Taiwan (97,843), Thailand (92,914) and Italy (75,155).

The Philippines was not included in the list.

As many people are expected to receive games as presents this Christmas, Kaspersky Lab urged users to take the right precautions.

The security software firm noted several types of attacks, such as a fake Minecraft tool that promises to let users ban other players; a fake Grand Theft Auto V download that claims to let users access the game for free; and the traditional phishing, which lures users into handing over data or money with the promise of discounts or cheap gaming goods.

“Gaming has an ever increasing fanbase, which means that the number of potential victims for cyber criminals is rising as well,” said Christian Funk, a senior virus analyst from Kaspersky Lab’s Global Research and Analysis Team.

“Cybercriminals are putting a lot of effort into their attacks and we can see a surge in their sophistication. During Christmas when a lot of new games are being released, gamers need to be even more attentive to stay secure,” Funk added.

Here are Kaspersky Lab’s five tips for gamers:

1. Don’t click through on any offers that look too good to be true, whether from your inbox or on social networks like Facebook or Twitter. If an offer comes through and looks legitimate, ensure the sender is trusted before hitting a link or handing over any details. If in doubt, contact the company the sender claims to be from.

2. Use strong and varied passwords across your gaming accounts. As we’ve seen this year, gaming companies get hacked and logins are leaked. If you don’t have different credentials, stealing one set could be a cybercriminal’s key to open all your different accounts using that same password. Consider investing in a password manager as it will give you simple, smart protection.

3. Get a good quality antivirus. With rafts of gaming malware out there and the increasing sophistication of malicious software, you’ll need some level of protection. You’ll need an antivirus that goes beyond signature-based detection to look at file reputation if you want to stop the smartest malware from getting on your system.

4. Be careful whom you befriend. It’s easy to make friends in virtual worlds today, but not all are doing so innocently. Beware of anyone who asks for your personal details as they may want to do more than just contact you.

5. Only download titles from legitimate sellers. If you’re downloading an illegal copy of a game, you aren’t just breaking the law. You also risk getting malware on your machine as crooks often disguise malicious software as game files.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Using public Wi-Fi? Be careful

MANILA – Security software firm Kaspersky Lab warned smartphone, tablet and laptop users of the risks of public Wi-Fi hotspots, saying that they may fall prey to cybercriminals.

According to Kaspersky Lab, data sent through public Wi-Fi can be easily intercepted, letting cybercriminals access users’ banking credentials, banking passwords and other valuable information.

Citing a recent survey, it said 70% of tablet owners and 53% of smartphone users said they use public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Here are some tips from Kaspersky Lab’s team of Internet security experts on using public Wi-Fi hotspots:

1. Be aware – Public Wi-Fi is inherently insecure, so be cautious.

2. Remember, any device could be at risk – Laptops, smartphones and tablets are all susceptible to wireless security risks.

3. Treat all Wi-Fi links with suspicion – Don’t just assume that the Wi-Fi link is legitimate. It could be a bogus link that has been set up by a cybercriminal that is trying to capture valuable, personal information from unsuspecting users. Question everything and don’t connect to an unknown or unrecognized wireless access point.

4. Try to verify the legitimacy of a wireless connection – Some bogus links that have been set up by malicious users will have a connection name that’s deliberately similar to the coffee shop, hotel or venue that’s offering free Wi-Fi. If you can speak with an employee at the location that’s providing the public Wi-Fi connection, ask for information about their legitimate Wi-Fi access point, such as the connection’s name and IP address.

5. Use a VPN (virtual private network) – By using a VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you’ll effectively be using a “private tunnel” that encrypts all of your data that passes through the network. This can help prevent cybercriminals that are lurking on the network from intercepting your data.

6. Avoid using specific types of websites – It’s a good idea to avoid logging into websites where there’s a chance that cybercriminals could capture your identity, passwords or personal information such as social networking sites, online banking services or any websites that store your credit card information.

7. Consider using your mobile phone – If you need to access any websites that store or require the input of any sensitive information, including social networking, online shopping and online banking sites, it may be worthwhile accessing them via your mobile phone network instead of the public Wi-Fi connection.

8. Protect your device against cyberattacks – Make sure all of your devices are protected by a rigorous anti-malware and security solution and ensure that it’s updated as regularly as possible.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Valentine-themed spam to rise four-fold this year – McAfee

MANILA, Phiippines — Internet users smitten by the love bug this Valentine’s Day need to be wary about being carried away by their emotions as security software firm McAfee warns that cyber criminals could be on the prowl on hearts–and eventually, pockets–this season of love.

According to a recent threat bulletin from McAfee, the amount of Valentine-themed spam messages is expected to “quadruple globally, as we approach the holiday, based on previous years of spam volumes.”

“This means that the bad guys are trying to take advantage of our open hearts with romance-related scams designed to trick you out of your information and money, or get you to click on dangerous links,” McAfee said.

These suspicious messages could come in the form of unsolicited mail advertising Valentine gifts; Valentine e-cards; online dating scams; romance-related malware; and phishing sites found on search engines, the antivirus provider said.

“One of the reasons we’re seeing an influx in this kind of spam is because scammers are using a technique called ‘snowshoe spamming’ in which they spread spam across multiple Internet addresses to evade spam filters,” it cautioned.

Should users receive any of the messages stated above, McAfee said they should be judicious enough to verify the source of the message, as in the case of e-cards.

“If you click on a link in a phony e-card, you could wind up accidentally downloading malware onto your device,” it pointed out.

The company also warned users who are looking for potential gifts to give to their loved ones through search engines to be extra vigilant, since scammers are always on the prowl and could trick users into giving up their credit card information.

“You may, for instance, come across a dangerous website while doing a search for ‘Valentine’s Day jewelry’,” it said. “Attracted by the site’s low prices, you may enter your credit card number and personal information and then get sweet nothings in return.”

But cyber criminals could also come in the form of an unsuspecting potential flame found on one of the myriad of online dating sites, McAfee said, pretending to be a sweet talker seemingly interested in forging romantic involvements online.

For these types of crooks, McAfee reiterates an age-old advice to “be suspicious of anyone who claims to fall in love too fast,” because they may actually be after your wallet, if not out to break your heart.

“Do an online search on any potential suitor to see if what they’ve said about themselves is true. Cross-reference the information you have against sites like LinkedIn or Spoke,” it added.

source: interaksyon.com