Bank account details are selling for as little as £5 as part of a thriving trade in stolen information on the internet, according to a report. There is a "maturing underground economy" in trading stolen information on the web, a report by Symantec, a firm specialising in web security and information management has found. Bank account details have become the most frequently advertised item sold in so-called "cyber crime supermarkets" making up 22% of all goods and selling for as little as around £5, the report noted. Credit card information accounted for 13% of all advertised goods, it said. Credit cards from the European Union cost more than those from the US, probably because of the smaller supply of cards circulating in the EU, which makes the card more valuable to criminals. Phishing, or the practice of tricking people into giving out confidential information, is also continuing to be a problem, the report noted. In the last six months of 2007, Symantec said it observed 87,963 phishing hosts, or computers that can host one or more phishing web sites, an increase of 167% from the first half of 2007. A total of 80% of brands targeted by phishing attacks during the study period were in the financial sector. The report was compiled from data collection by millions of internet sensors and research and monitoring of communications by hackers. Stephen Trilling, vice president, Symantec Security Technology and Response, said: "Avoiding the dark alleys of the internet was sufficient advice in years past. "Today's criminal is focused on compromising legitimate web sites to launch attacks on end-users, which underscores the importance of maintaining a strong security posture no matter where you go and what you do on the internet."
Wow... I should probably stop using my debit/credit card to buy things online... Its kind of scary when you thinkabout all of the scams that are running online and the dangers of sharing the information.
Online purchasing remains more secure than using a credit/debit card in a mortar and bricks store. In fact, some of the more serious security breaches of credit security in my part of the US in recent months have primarily involved databases storing customer information from mostly walk-in customers (the nature of the stores was such that that constituted the majority of their business). Because this type of identity theft is largely viewed as an Internet problem, many business which conduct most of their commerce in person don't take adequate security precautions with stored customer data.
True enough. I probably buy more online than in store though to be honest and not always from the bigger brand stores like HMV, Play.com or whatever.
I never bank online. No matter how secure the sites say they are. Hackers can hack into the pentagon. Hacking inot my account would be cake. Not that they'd get much anyways! But yeah, I know- what's to stop them from hacking into my account anyways... I mean, really it doesn't matter what we do I suppose, there is always going to be a risk of identity theft. But 5 pounds for my acount details aint even worth it when I don't even have that much in there. LOL
I do all my clothing and shoe shopping online. I hate the fashion sense in this country and find all the best clothing for the style of clothing I like is only available in Japan and the UK. If some fool is going to try and hack my account well hope he has fun with it cause my bank has messed my accounts around that badly at the moment that I can't even get funds out of it. And when I can...they can just give me all my money and I'll go back to the under the mattress account lol going back to one bank account for deposits then take it out and stash it...I hate banks!
Lol yeah banks aren't all that fantastic at times, but I do like my online shopping so I guess they're good for that.
Woot I gots a point The majority of people pay for stuff on card now instore as well as online, where I work we hardly ever have people pay cash.
Online shopping? My Mom-Dad would kill me if I as much as touched their cards...and I haven't exactly asked my Dad for a Paypal account right now, though I talked to my Mom, I'll need to get the details before I talk to hi though. Fingers crossed, hopefully, then I could become a supporter........aagh, I'm confused.
I don't get charged for using my bank card in shops, but it definitely makes me overspend. I've just had a shopping splurge on ebay and play.com Its easier when you're not handing over the cash.
When I wanted a Paypal account they told me I had to be 18 anyways... I don't have to ask my parents permission as i've had a debit card since I was 14 and all the money in my bank is what I earn myself at work, they don't contribute.
I can get my father to make an account or himself or Mom, so that's fine.....My Dad wouldn't mind getting me cards, but my Mom refuses to accept that idea....as for earning myself.....I don't work, can't work, sounds sorts of backward, but in my family a girl can't step out of the house's threshhold to "work" especially when she's not independent.......after studies it's ok, though my grandparents aren't big on the idea...but not now!
Seriously, where are the manners, all they ask for is age. kiddin', lol, I'm 15....3 more years left...before I can vote, drive, adopt a child, get hold over all my fds and accounts and legally own stuff......lol...I can't wait!!
That's not so bad then, most people your age don't have a debit/credit card anyways so it's understandable. The only reason I got one so early is coz the bank i'm with gives you a solo/maestro card at 12 if your parents give permission and at 16 without.
Just one year more for...anyways you're lucky, I'd kill to go out and work, but every time I mention going out for "working" they take it for mental working and line me up with tuitions, though I don't mind the current ones, I'm studying with friends one of them a guy who's loads of fun to tease and watch squirm.lol
The trick is to get a job where they pay you for what you'd be doing anyway, and to convince them to keep increasing your pay to deter you from leaving. Then you'll have fun all day, while bolstering the bank accounts that the identity thieves will attempt to crack into. Everyone wins!
