E-Commerce News: Internet Fraud

Sunday - June 21, 2009

Terrorist groups that have long used the Internet to spread propaganda are increasingly tapping the Web to teach Islamic extremists how to be hackers, recruit techies for cyberwarfare and raise money through online fraud, U.S. officials say. A senior defense official said intelligence reports indicate extremist groups are seeking computer experts, including those capable of breaching government or other sensitive network systems. The official said the extent and success of those recruiting efforts are unclear. [More...]

Will PCI Ever Make the Grade?

Friday - June 19, 2009

Every time you swipe your credit card and wait for the transaction to be approved, sensitive data including your name and account number are ferried from store to bank through computer networks, each step a potential opening for hackers. While you may take steps to protect yourself against identity theft, an Associated Press investigation has found the banks are not being nearly as cautious as they could. [More...]

A Week of Free Updates, Free Advice and Free Speech

Friday - June 19, 2009

What we're seeing in Iran could be the beginning of some big political changes. Fishy results in the presidential election last week have led to massive protests, some of which have turned violent. The way the news about the country's turbulence is reaching other parts of the world is monumental in its own right -- symptomatic of the changes that have been brewing ever since the term "Web 2.0" moved into cliché territory. [More...]

Friend or Fraud? Security and Social Networks

Thursday - June 18, 2009

Back in January, friends of Seattle, Wash., resident Bryan Rutberg were stunned when they read e-mails from his Facebook account accompanied by his photo. In the messages, Bryan appeared to claim he was in big trouble and that he needed their help. At least one friend wired him money. However, Rutberg wasn't really in trouble and was in no need of assistance. [More...]

Microsoft Hauls Click Fraudsters Into Court

Tuesday - June 16, 2009

Microsoft has initiated a civil lawsuit in the Western District of Seattle seeking $750,000 in damages from three individuals in Vancouver, British Columbia, for committing click fraud. The three alleged fraudsters are two brothers and a mother -- Eric Lam, Gordon Lam and Melanie Suen -- who, according to Microsoft, have deployed botnets to drive up clicks at Web sites that compete with theirs. [More...]

Keeping Credit Card Numbers Well-Cloaked: Q&A With Fingerhut's Mark Lieberg

Thursday - June 11, 2009

It's a fact that might not bring a lot of comfort to consumers and businesses, but it's true: The methods for protecting e-commerce transactions haven't changed a great deal since online shopping became a viable option in the early '90s. SSL and TSL encryption are the protocols that slap on that little padlock you see at the bottom of a Web site once you've begun the purchase process. [More...]

Fraud Alert Firms' Days May Be Numbered

Sunday - May 31, 2009

Companies that sell "identity-theft protection" present an alluring but questionable proposition. For as much as about $100 per year, the main thing they do is set fraud alerts that force banks to call people before new lines of credit are opened in their names. The alerts can be useful -- but people can set them themselves, for free. [More...]

The Flourishing Fraud Economy

Saturday - April 18, 2009

One economy apparently isn't hurting these days -- the one run by identity thieves in the dark corners of the Internet. Demand and prices remain stable for stolen credit cards, Social Security numbers and other private information, according to a new study by security software maker Symantec. [More...]

An Xserve Lift, an iTunes Shift and a Gift Card Grift

Friday - April 10, 2009

Most of Apple's core products have seen some sort of refresh since last September, and it appears there aren't a whole lot left to update any time soon. Most recently, Apple unleashed Intel's Nehalem processors in its Xserve server line, which doubled the performance ... so, that's cool, but definitely cool for a limited audience of professional business users. [More...]

Scammers Swarm: Tax Time Is Open Season for Phishers

Wednesday - April 8, 2009

It's tax time again, and the online scammers are crawling out of the woodwork. Their goals are to intercept personal information about taxpayers nationwide, and in some ways, they may be benefiting from the IRS' push for people to electronically file their returns. Some scammers are "phishing" taxpayers by sending emails that claim to be from the IRS. [More...]

New Recession-Era Twist in Cyber-Crime: Preying on Fear

Sunday - March 15, 2009

Everyone knows cyber-crime is a cat and mouse game, usually involving a bit of social engineering to trick unsuspecting computer users into clicking a link, installing some software or providing valuable information. The latest trick in crooks' bags: "recession malware." [More...]

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