As computer protection gets better and more secure, so too do internet hackers and criminals. Here are several common techniques Google has identified as to how a criminal could obtain your login information.
Malicious software
Malware, or badware, is malicious software that is installed on a computer without the user's knowledge or consent. It tracks the user's moves throughout the internet, and might be used to access and abuse personal data.
If you find malware on your computer, it's possible that all the accounts you accessed online have been affected. After removing the malware from your computer, we strongly advise you to change the passwords to all of your online accounts that you accessed recently. For further information on malware, please visit stopbadware.org
Phishing
Phishing is a form of internet fraud aimed at obtaining credit card information, passwords, and other personal information. A phishing attack is often initiated with an email imitating other emails sent by a legitimate institution (your bank or internet service provider, for example). The email may ask you to update or verify your account information. In some cases, you'll be asked to visit a fraudulent website imitating a legitimate company's website. Information submitted via the website or a reply email will be captured by the initiator of the phishing attack.
Stealing or hacking personal records
PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Here are several things you can do to prevent unauthorised access and protect your private information:
Secure your computer
Install patches for your operating system to protect personal information.
Use a firewall program to stop uninvited access to your computer. Always use the latest version of your browser and make sure data is secured during transmission (look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar).
Avoid storing personal information on your laptop. Also avoid using an automatic log-in feature that saves your user name and password. Make sure you always log off when you're finished.
Be careful what you open
Don't open files, click hyperlinks, or download programs sent to you by people you don't know. Opening a file could expose your system to spyware or a computer virus that could capture passwords and other information as you type it on your keyboard. Be sure to update your spyware and virus protection software regularly.
Keep your personal information personal
Be careful when giving out personal information on the 'phone, via email, or on the internet. If you receive emails asking you to update account information, call your account's customer service line and verify that the email is legitimate.
If the email directs you to a website, make sure the website's upper-level domain matches that of the organisation's homepage. For example, if the email asks you to visit www.mybank.com.au/infoupdate, make sure that your bank's actual website contains 'www.mybank.com.au' in the URL. You can also try typing (not copying and pasting) the URL from the email into your browser's address bar. Some companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly.
