CYBERCRIME 101

There have been discussions lately that the general consumer does not know enough about cybercrime, malware, and general online security. This does not only include individual users but also small business owners or any business that do not have a dedicated IT department.

This quick Cybercrime 101 class will help you identify some of the terms and definitions and show you some basic steps you can take to keep you or your business safe.

Cybercrime – a crime committed using a computer and the Internet to steal a person’s identity, sell contraband, stalk victims or disrupt operations with malevolent programs. This is a term that has become increasingly important these last few years as cyber criminals have stolen billions of dollars from businesses and individuals alike. Lately, the criminals seem to have specifically targeted small to midsize businesses who may not have a dedicated security staff and do not have adequate security on their network.

Malware - Short for malicious software and is any program or file that is harmful to a computer user. So, malware includes computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and more. Basically, malware is what the cybercriminals create to be able to get into your computer, steal your information, and gain access to your bank accounts or customer data.

Phishing – an email attempting to get information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity such as a bank, auction sites, social websites and others.

There are many tools available that will give you some sense of security when you go online, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. You should always make sure you have these installed and upgraded to the latest version. But to make sure your online transactions are secure and that your personal information is not hacked into by cybercriminals or your computer is not infected by malware, you should look at SafeCentral’s WebProtection™.

SafeCentral’s WebProtection™ is a one-time install application that actually assumes that your machine is already infected with malware and ensures that the information on your computer stays secure. WebProtection™ interprets and intercepts over 5,000 discrete Windows commands and effectively blocks all potentially dangerous activities except those processes needed for the transaction. Learn more about how it actually works and how it keeps your information safe at http://www.safecentral.com/home-user.html. Feel free to also look through some of our other blog posts and industry articles to learn more about cybercrime and malware.

Check back next month for another 101 educational blog post.