Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

Cyber criminals getting personal, thanks to stolen data

Cyber criminals are increasingly using data stolen from social networking sites and compromised emails to launch personal and customised attacks, it has emerged.

The crooks are using social engineering techniques to tailor their messages to suit their victims, and many individuals are ill equipped to know when they are being scammed, warned internet security experts from McAfee's Avert Labs.

"Cybercriminals are crafting attacks that are virtually impossible for computer users to identify," says Jayson O'Reilly of McAfee.

"Phishing scams, e-mail attacks, trojan horses and other attacks are so personalised that even someone with the most watchful eye could fall for a carefully socially-engineered trap."

It appears no one is immune to the online threats posed by this as the researchers say no matter your location or language "cyber crooks will exploit basic human nature".

The criminals "understand human weaknesses" and they will exploit every tool the internet offers them to get their way.

Since 2006 the amount of trojans using social engineering has grown by 150 per cent.

PC Tools anti virus software offers security and protection for your friends and family against latest viruses, worms and Trojans. Visit www.pctools.com to upgrade your protection