Information Protection and Security

Many times attackers use social engineering tactics to trick victims into installing malware.  Malware is short for malicious software and includes Trojans, worms, viruses, etc. It can do any number of things to disable your computer and make life and computing frustrating.  To begin with, don’t be fooled by fake antivirus tools in pop-up windows, emails with embedded links and/or rusecuretelling you to provide confidential information (passwords, bank account numbers, etc) .  Stay away from links on social networking sites.  They’re a hotbed for the distribution of malware, often by sharing links by way of compromised accounts.  Spammers also send email looking like software upgrade advisories to trick you into installing malicious programs.  Stop. Think. Secure IT!

"This is a very, very unusual event. My message in terms of meeting people from the internet is 'please do not do it unless you are absolutely certain it is safe'."

Unbeknownst to most mainstream Facebook users, the social network actually offers a slew of privacy controls and security features which can help you batten down the hatches, so to speak. If used properly, you'll never have to worry about whether you should friend the boss and your mom. You can friend anyone you want while comfortable in the knowledge that not everyone gets to see everything you post.
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If you're on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site, you could be the next victim because more cyberthieves are targeting increasingly popular social networking sites that provide a gold mine of personal information, according to the FBI.
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"Apart from accessing the user's Webmail accounts, e-mail addresses are commonly used to log into social networking sites,” Wood said. “So with a successful phishing attack, the bad guys not only gain access to an individual's e-mail account, but also a variety of other sites that may be linked to that account. People should be advised not to share the same password for these sites and should change their passwords at least every 90 days."

WASHINGTON -- Russian hackers hijacked American identities and U.S. software tools and used them in an attack on Georgian government Web sites during the war between Russia and Georgia last year, according to new research to be released Monday by a nonprofit U.S. group.

Social networking sites were the target of 19 percent of attacks and media sites second at 16 percent. Four other types of sites were tied with 12 percent each: retail, technology, retail and government/political sites.
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The study concludes that the cyberattacks against Georgian targets were carried out by civilians, many of them recruited via social networking forums devoted to dating, hobbies and politics.
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Botnet attack takes aim at pro-Georgian blogger and leaves collateral damage on social networking sites.

While tweets went silent last week, hundreds of other DDoS attacks were under way around the globe -- and several more powerful ones.
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