Johannesburg, 09 Sep 2011
Cyber criminals are reportedly already attempting to exploit renewed interest in 9/11 as the 10-year anniversary approaches.
Web security firm, BitDefender, warns that a number of Web sites have been created offering supposed footage such as “Bin Laden alive” and “towers going down” to attract curious Web surfers. The social networks are also the usual targets for malware traps and phishing scams.
Other dubious sites include fraudulent charities and auctions on items supposedly from the sites of the attacks. According to BitDefender, such sites include links to scareware and phishing sites.
Head of the BitDefender Online Threats Lab, Catalin Cosoi, says this week may bring on the largest wave of 9/11 hacks and scams ever.
“When the terrorist attacks hit the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in 2001, the online world was a much less sophisticated place.
“Since then, new tools have increased the complexity of spam, scams and malware; new groups such as Anonymous have publicly promoted hacking as a civil disobedience tool; and the criminal world is seeing opportunities for profit that may eventually exceed drug trafficking and other rackets,” says Cosoi.
“Because of the advancement of hacking and spamming technology over the past decade, plus the significance of the anniversary and increased media coverage, 11 September this year may prove hectic on the malware front.”
Cosoi notes that the anniversary of the London bombings of July 2005 (known as 7/7) has also been subject to the same threat from cyber criminals.
In terms of fraudulent charities, Cosoi says almost identical copies of correspondence and real charity sites often persuade people to deposit money.
Earlier this year, Bin Laden's death also generated a surge of online scams, spam and e-mails. Security firm Symantec advised surfers to use best practices when searching for content online.
“Don't open e-mails or attachments from people you don't know. Online criminals commonly use shocking or sensational headlines in e-mails to lure people into falling for online scams,” said Symantec.
Symantec also advises people to beware of shortened links found on social networking news feeds. “They may be directing you to fake Web sites laden with malicious software.”