Data Scams

[RonBoyd]

Somewhat scary article in today's USAToday:

Data scams have kicked into high gear as markets tumble

Cybercriminals have launched a massive new wave of Internet-based schemes to steal personal data and carry out financial scams in an effort to take advantage of the fear and confusion created by tumbling financial markets, security specialists say.

Among those caught in the most recent barrage of scams was Justin Terrazas, 27, a beverage merchandiser from Seattle. He clicked on a Web link that infected his MacBook Pro laptop with a data-stealing program. Not realizing the laptop was compromised, Terrazas later typed his Bank of America debit card number and PIN to pay his Verizon cellphone bill online. The data-stealer swiftly siphoned his information.

Yeah, another "Doom & Gloom" article but it is a reminder to include the Dragon in your plans.

(Another take-away -- for those who care about such things --is that an Apple computer was involved.)

 

[ERD50]

(Another take-away -- for those who care about such things --is that an Apple computer was involved.)

Curious.

I wish they gave a bit more info. I did read this past week about a Trojan Horse that infected some Macs, but it was *much* more involved than someone who just "clicked on a Web link".

The Trojan I read about hit people who went to a specific Russian website to download pirated copies of expensive software, or downloaded an illegal copy of iWorks over BitTorrent. AFIAC, if you are out stealing, getting a Trojan Horse is Karma. What's the old saying - "You can't cheat an honest man"?

Maybe he was running Windows on that Mac?

At any rate, if anyone does have solid information on this, please share so that us Mac users can take any appropriate actions, if needed. I won't hold my breath, otherwise I would have been buried many, many years ago.

-ERD50