The Internet has become a playground for cyber criminals claiming innocent victims each day. It is no longer safe to browse the Internet or use a computer on a network, connected to the Internet, without proper protection against viruses and spyware. But a total cyber security outfit consists of more than just having anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on your computer. You also need protection against spam and hackers. With so many security software to choose from, it is not always easy choosing the right spam filter and firewall, not even to mention configuring them to provide adequate and effective protection against cyber criminals.
No security software can substitute for common sense. Software is there to assist us, not to take over our lives or think on our behalf. The human mind plays a vital role in the battle against cyber crime. It has the ability to reason, something that software cannot do very well. Software can only reason within the boundaries it was programmed to operate in. When something happens outside these boundaries, the software can no longer serve its cause. This is when you need to be able to identify threats before they claim you as a victim. The latest generation of browsers include anti-phishing filters to protect people against phishing scams. But this technology mainly relies on the Internet community to report phishing sites. This is a big disadvantage because a phishing site can claim several victims before it is reported and to make things even worse, people are afraid of reporting cyber crime.
Security software is not yet able to assist people in identifying phishing scams and advance free fraud (419 Nigerian scams) effectively. This is why it is of the utmost importance for Internet users to be able to identify online fraud without relying on incompetent software. The Internet community should stop trusting everything on the Internet and take on an attitude of questioning everything they encounter on the Internet. Cyber criminals constantly create new methods of deceiving people, new variants of viruses and spyware appear each day and security experts are always one step behind them. It is therefore important for every Internet user to be vigilant and aware of the threats threatening our online safety today. Take a stand against cyber crime, make your contribution to a safer Internet, REPORT CYBER CRIME!
Computer Crime Research News
Daily news from www.crime-research.org
CICT forms its own cybercrime unitWed, 01 Jul 2009 06:35:01 +0100
Filed Under: Laws, Hacking, Technology (general), Government WITH the prospect of the cybercrime bill becoming a law, the Commission on Information...
DSC could get $1 million for computer crime prevention program
Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:00:37 +0100
ST. GEORGE — The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $1 million for a crime prevention technology program at Dixie State College....
Hackers To Join Britain's Cyberspace Army
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:17:23 +0100
Fomer computer hackers are being recruited for a British cyberspace army, as the UK seeks to defend itself from the growing risk of web terrorism and...
Hefty cyber-crime costs hit Aussies
Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:00:06 +0100
SMALL businesses are leaving themselves vulnerable to computer crime by scrimping on the cost of security. A survey by the Australian Institute...
Computer crime specialist welcomes internet controls
Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:39:55 +0100
The Guelph Police officer whose job it is to track down criminals on the internet welcomes the call for increased police powers. Det. Const. Bruce...
