On Phishing, Pharming, and Pheeling Safe Online
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Good vs. evil. A classic literary genre turned online reality.
As buying and selling online has become increasingly accessible, easier, and more enjoyable, criminal activity surrounding it has proliferated.
Phishers and pharmers. Heard of 'em? They're out there — and their numbers are growing.
Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire personal information, such as account names, passwords, and credit card details, by masquerading as a legitimate, trustworthy company in e-mail. Pharming is a hacker's attack aiming to redirect a legitimate website's traffic to another (bogus) website. Technically speaking, pharming software misdirects people to fraudulent sites or proxy servers, typically through DNS hijacking or poisoning.
If only there was a silver bullet to stop phishing or pharming; there's not. These are Internet problems that require a combined effort from industry, law enforcement, and consumers.
Before you unplug your computer and hit the pavement to make purchases in person, know this: there are companies and organizations doing all they can to make the Internet a safe place to surf and shop.
What protections can the "industry" offer you these days? Go online and you'll find a host of outfits offering their services to private and public sectors, to corporations and private citizens alike. Many of these service companies work around the clock, using proprietary Internet monitoring technology and fraud intelligence networks, to prevent, detect, destroy, analyze, and help you recover from online phishing attacks.
Many online stores and companies now offer 24-hour hotlines and email addresses that let you immediately report unauthorized activity on your account. Many companies work with you to swiftly resolve issues and reimburse you in full for any late fees, penalties, or related finance charges incurred. The companies that "get it" now state upfront that they will not sell your personal information to third parties or marketers for any purpose.
Considering the nature of today's online marketplace, the savviest companies are dedicating significant resources to combat phishing — combining customer education, tools like security keys, and behind-the-scenes anti-fraud technology.
Knowing how to protect yourself is perhaps the best way to keep phishers and pharmers at bay. Two smart ways to stay safe online are:
Upgrade to a safer browser. Internet Explorer 7 has the latest anti-phishing features. And remember, when logging in to a website, always open a new browser and type the address in the address bar.
Guard your personal information. Legitimate companies and organizations will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive information through e-mail. If you have good reason to believe that someone needs personal information from you, phone the company directly. Avoid clicking on links in e-mails that ask for personal information.
Other ways to stay safe include beefing up your security with personal firewalls and security software packages, using encrypted security tokens, avoiding downloads from unknown sources, using strong passwords and changing them frequently, and logging out of your account when you finish shopping or other online activity.
No need to stop doing what you're doing online. Just be smart about it.
