Cybercrime touched the lives of so many Americans in 2011 that it felt as pervasive as the common cold and as painful as the flu. According to a report by security giant Symantec, someone is a victim of a cybercrime 14 times every second. In the last year, over 430 million people have been the victims of cybercrime. All this information does not mean that we need to throw out all our fancy digital devices and gadgets. Instead, these staggering statistics mean that careful attention to cyber security is a necessary part of smart living.
But to understand how to be prepared, we need to look back at cybercrime in 2011.
More “Catchy” Viruses
Viruses and malware were the most common types of cybercrime last year. Viruses are usually transmitted through unsuspecting users who visit or download from corrupt sites and who open emails containing malicious software -- or “malware.” In 2011, 54 percent of online adults experienced a virus or malware attack.
Many of the most potent viruses this year were transmitted via links to corrupted sites or email attachments, often hitting as a disguised news story.
- We’re used to getting emails about packages being delivered. This year, hackers exploited that comfort and sent out emails impersonating DHL that launched a virus into the user’s computer.
- A popular “news” scam was a report about Fidel Castro’s death that launched a virus.
- A faked video of the death of Osama bin Laden was another virus circulated this year.
- Lady Gaga’s Twitter account was hacked and attackers sent out a link to a site where users could get a free iPad 2. Users were directed to a corrupted website.
No Business or Institution Seemed Safe
3. Privacy: Take responsibility and customize.
From government agencies to electronics giants, hackers and attackers fought their way into personal information systems and websites, sometimes just to show it could be done and sometimes to steal valuable personal information.
Here are a few of the most audacious hacks from this year:
- Email addresses and personal information of millions of people was stolen from the marketing firm Epsilon. Many experts saw it as the largest breach of its kind ever.
- Attackers found their way into Sony’s PlayStation customer database this year stealing information from millions of gamers.
- Lulzsec, a hacker group, claimed responsibility for an attack on the website for the Central Intelligence Agency. The hackers shut down the site for a portion of the day proving that the site was not as secure as once thought.
- “Anonymous” showed its support to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange by cyber attacking anyone who opposed his mission. Just this week, Anonymous even tried to act like Robin Hood by using stolen credit cards to donate money to charities.
Online Dates From Hell
Not all crimes that start on the Internet stay on the Internet. In recent years, Internet dating has become far more common. Sadly this year Internet dating crimes became more common, too.
In the news this year, we saw these online dating crimes:
- A television reporter sued Match.com over a sexual attack she claims occurred as a result of meeting a man on their site. The suspect in the incident was a convicted sex offender.
- Some online dating scams defraud men or women of money by promising love and affection. Con artists used fake identities posing as people looking for love to get money out of their victims. One woman was defrauded of $500,000.
- One Arizona man was duped into going all the way to the Ukraine, where he was found wandering homeless and sick.
Identity Theft – of Companies and Institutions
Attempting to impersonate companies or people to rob others is nothing new. But this year attackers were more bold and savvy with emails impersonating seemingly trustworthy sources. Most of the emails contained requests for personal information and a link to an external site that stole your information.
- Even the American standard for business excellence, the Better Business Bureau, was caught in a scam when hackers impersonated the BBB in emails containing viruses.
- Emails from “Facebook” went out asking users to click a link and input login information. The webpage to which the link directed the user was corrupted and infected the user’s computer.
- Not even the Federal Government was immune from this impersonation as the IRS found out earlier this year.
- The online payment gateway giant, PayPal, was impersonated in an email by hackers in an attempt to steal users’ banking information.
Cyberbullying
Of all the cybercrimes that made headlines in 2011, few were more disheartening than cyberbullying. Consequences ranged from friction in school to physical abuse and even suicide. Even though it was termed cyberbullying, the victims felt it in their real lives and saw the far reaching consequences.
The news was littered with tragic stories like these:
- A freshman at Rutgers University took his own life after his roommate posted streamed video of the young man in intimate and embarrassing sexual encounters.
- A 14-year-old boy from Buffalo, NY, Jamey Rodemeyer, committed suicide after being constantly harassed online.
- A 15-year-old student from Ireland committed suicide after relentless taunting online and off. Phoebe Prince’s case resulted in a settlement with the school district.
Since 2011 was the Year of Cybercrime, we can make 2012 the Year of Embracing Security.
Resolve to Be Cybersecure in 2012
Just like physical wellness, digital wellness begins with a few simple steps reflecting your new priorities and leads to greater online safety, security, privacy, and peace of mind in the long term.
Here are three resolutions to get you started on your road to digital health in 2012:
1. Safety: Keep your software updated and your passwords separate.
Install anti-virus software on your computer, keep it updated, and keep it running. Don’t hit “remind me later” when your computer tells you it’s ready for an update. Further protect your information by using separate passwords for separate sites. Always using the same password is like giving hackers a skeleton key to your private information
2. Security: Give it the “real world” test.
When engaging in activity online, ask yourself if it is something you would do in “real life” (i.e. Would I share this personal info with a stranger in the real world? Or Would my friend really send a link like this for me to click?). If the answer is no, don’t do it online.
3. Privacy: Take responsibility and customize.
Check the privacy policies of the sites you use to make sure they are taking steps to protect your personal info. Once you know the settings, take a few minutes to customize your personal privacy settings on the sites you use most.
We make so many New Year’s Resolutions every year. Why not make improving your digital health one of them?
For more information on safety, security, and privacy, check back here often or visit my site, sspblue.com.
About the Author: Hemanshu Nigam is a former federal computer-crime prosecutor who now heads SSP Blue, an online security firm whose clients include Microsoft and News Corporation, among others.
Photo Credits: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill | AP Photo/Buffalo News, Sharon Cantillon |