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Toronto, Canada
Phishing, the practice of luring unsuspecting victims to disclose
personal information online, has quickly become the fastest-growing
security threat to Internet users. Governments, businesses and
individuals worldwide are taking this threat seriously, as are WSI
Internet Consultants who are prepared to help their clients avoid
falling victim to this and other forms of online scams.
The objective of the phishing scam is to collect sensitive
information to commit identity theft and run up bills, empty bank
accounts or commit crimes in the victim’s name. Phishers accomplish
this by sending emails or pop-up messages under the guise of a
legitimate business; banks, online payment services, Internet
service providers, even government organizations. Recipients are
solicited to submit personal information in order to “validate” or
“update” their account information or face dire consequences.
Phishing is particularly insidious as it exploits Internet-based
technology to track the activities of Internet users; identifying
the businesses or organizations a particular target deals with, and
thereby lending credibility to the scam and increasing the potential
that the target will divulge the information desired. Phishers have
been known to collect information using dummy-sites developed to
fool targeted individuals into believing these are legitimate sites
of trusted businesses or organizations.
To
avoid falling victim to this and other online scams, Internet users
are being warned to be cautious with whom they do business online
and to never transmit sensitive information via email. Emails or
pop-up messages that ask for personal information should be deleted,
and users should never open attachments or click on links that seem
suspicious or are sent from individuals or companies not known to
them. Credit card statements should also be checked as soon as they
are received and any dubious charges investigated through the
provider. Anti-virus software and firewalls can also protect you
from unintentionally accepting phishing emails or pop-ups which
often also contain spyware or viruses.
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is actively investigating the
threat of phishing and Internet Service Providers, led by AOL are
working towards preventing this activity online. These organizations
continue to identify and limit the access of Phishers to the online
community, instigating legal action when appropriate.
As
leading Internet experts serving small- to medium-sized businesses
worldwide, WSI is doing its part to protect its clients by
continually educating its Internet Consultants on this and other
security threats. “We strongly believe that the only way to fully
protect yourself is to understand and be able to identify the
threats you face so that you can take the necessary precautions to
avoid being victimized,” explains Christopher Booth, WSI’s VP of
Enterprise Technology Services. “The information and support we give
our Internet Consultants enables them to ensure that their clients
are safeguarded from phishing and other Internet-based threats.”
About WSI
WSI ICE is the world’s largest network of Internet Consultants with
offices serving over 1000 local markets worldwide. Ranked the #1
Internet Services Business by industry-leading Entrepreneur
magazine, our proven systems are used to deliver thousands of
economical e-Business solutions to small- and medium-sized
businesses annually. |
