Beware 'Ransomware' targeting UK computer users and SMEs

The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned of a 'significant risk' from emails with an attachment that, if launched, runs malware known as Cryptolocker. Cryptolocker encrypts the user’s files on the infected machine and demands payment to recover the data - an attack known as ransomware. The NCA points out that this spamming campaign is particularly targeting SMEs (presumably because of the type of message and fake attachment).

The usual advice to protect yourself applies including: ensure anti-virus is up to date; back up data; and don't open attachments if you have any doubts at all about their origin.

Beware phone calls claiming you have a problem with your computer

I popped home at lunch-time and the phone rang. I only heard a few words before I impolitely put the receiver down, cutting poor 'Alan' off in mid call-centre spiel. He claimed to be from the Global Security Department and his next sentence would have been to say they had found a problem with my PC and its internet connection. Very soon he would have wanted remote access to fix it but instead would have installed malicious software.

I noticed a story in a local paper just recently where a gentleman was nearly taken in by such a scam but managed to stop it just in time. And this isn't the first time I have received such a call. It behoves us all to spread the word about this dangerous practice.

10 Android Security Applications for Mobile Devices

Android has become a major target for malicious software - this eWEEK slide show covers 10 different security applications designed for Android 10 Android Security Applications to Keep Your Mobile Devices Safe. If you have an Android device you should be using something from this list.

Social media plagued by privacy problems, say researchers

Social media is plagued by privacy problems, according to researchers at Lancaster University who reviewed the privacy management of 16 popular social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter. The interesting point in their work is that there is a disconnect between the published privacy policies and the options provided to users to control their privacy. I noted in my book that privacy controls on many sites are not obvious to the user. It now seems that what controls that do exist are not traceable back to the published privacy policies. I hope the research leads to a more transparent way for privacy permissions to be governed.

13 Million Facebook Users Haven't Touched Their Privacy Settings

Apparently 13 Million Facebook Users Haven't Touched Their Privacy Settings. And as I mention in my book, it's not in the interests of social media companies like Facebook, to have the defaults as private as you might like. So let's get that number down. Go and check your privacy settings now. If you are not sure how, go into the Facebook help centre, and click on 'Privacy'.