In an attempt to bring the numerous villains of the internet into the lime-light, Google recently announced that they will be publishing information pertaining to websites that host or spread various viruses, malware and phishing e-mailings. This is great news for the public with so many cyber criminals lurking about.
This new report will be included with Google’s Transparency Report. It is designed to help protect and inform users of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari about the risks involved when visiting specific websites. Google has stated that they average about 10,000 websites per day that are added to this list. By partnering with Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari, Google has helped to protect approximately 1 billion internet users.
Why is this welcomed and needed?
This comes off the heels of a statement issued by the FBI warning consumers to be on the watch for increased phishing attacks, directed at stealing financial credentials, personal information and intellectual property. This new breed of phishing emails and malware has become increasingly more realistic, and through the use of additional data obtained through social media outlets or data breaches, people are being lured into to parting ways with their personal information. The malware and phishing scam data collection process has become more sophisticated and so widely used that it is becoming increasingly difficult to prevent id theft or protect bank accounts without the proper tools.
Who is at risk?
Short answer, everyone. As the number of attacks increase, so do the locations and types of information these criminals are looking for. These attacks are extremely difficult for businesses to prevent and recent attacks have been launched against The White House, security firm RSA, and countless U.S. Defense contractors. Kaspersky Lab’s, an independent security firm, took data from more than 50 million different Windows users and compared the data for a 12 month period. They concluded that from May 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013 that the number of phishing attack sources had roughly tripled and that the number of people targeted has increased by 87%.
Protect yourself!
With the addition of the malware and phishing scam data being released by Google, users will now have another tool they can use to help prevent id theft. The recent surge in data breaches and attacks has left businesses and consumers vulnerable. While there is little that most government agencies can do, besides issuing multiple warnings, it is up to the consumer to take steps to protect themselves.
Get your credit information from all three major bureaus at the very least, quarterly. This allows you to monitor what credit activities are happening in your name. If you only check one report you are only checking 33 1/3% because the reports at each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion can be different. If you notice any unauthorized transactions, contact authorities immediately. Even if you don’t spot fraudulent use this also gives you the chance to look for inaccurate information. You could then contact the creditors reporting it or enlist the credit bureaus help to have it corrected; this alone could save you some money down the line on interest rates anyway.
You can further prevent id theft by being mindful of what you do online. While Facebook and Twitter are a lot of fun and a great way to stay connected, it is also a living library for cybercriminals looking for their next target.
Most people do not think about installing security apps on their smartphones, but whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi, you run the risk of your smartphone being breached. The fact that more and more people use convenience apps, such as online banking or online auction apps means your personal information is easily exposed with minimal protection for your phone. You can also prevent id theft by paying with cash instead of using a debit or credit card; you can even go one step further and avoid using ATM machines and go directly into your bank for all transactions. Once people begin to understand the present dangers that we are exposed to every moment of every day, the more the demand for preventive measures increases. Through proper credit monitoring services, personal diligence and immediate action once an issue is discovered, the problem can be controlled.
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