Computer Security Articles

• ANZ Invalid Login Attempts Phishing Scam
  Email claims that the recipient's ANZ Customer Registration Number and password have been revoked due to "severe numbers" of login attempts.
  
  
• Mailbox Deactivated Trojan Email
  Email purporting to be from technical support claims that the recipient's mailbox has been deactivated and he or she must run an attached utility in order to restore email service.
  
  
• Hyundai Chairman Charity Donation Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has been awarded 2 million dollars as part of a donation pledge given by Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-koo as a condition of his conviction for embezzlement.
  
  
• Error in Shipping Address Trojan Email
  Email, purporting to be from a parcel delivery service claims that a package could not be delivered due to a shipping address error and instructs the recipient to open an attachment to print out a shipping label.
  
  
• Facebook Password Reset Confirmation Trojan Email
  Email, purporting to be from Facebook, claims that the user's Facebook password has been changed and informs him or her that the new password can be found in an attached document.
  
  
• Paypal Primary Email Address Change Phishing Scam
  Email, purporting to be from PayPal, claims that the recipient's primary email address has changed and urges him or her to click a link in the message if the address change was unauthorised.
  
  
• Microsoft, Yahoo, Google Lottery Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has won a large sum of money in a lottery draw organized by Microsoft, Yahoo and Google.
  
  
• Btinternet Email Account Phishing Scam
  Email targeting BT Yahoo (Btinternet) users claims that the recipient's account will be suspended if he or she does not reply with account login details within 72 hours.
  
  
• BT Unpaid Bill Phone Scam Warning
  Email warns that scammers posing as UK telecommunications company BT staff are tricking people into revealing their bank or credit card details by claiming that their phone service will be disconnected if they do not pay an overdue bill immediately.
  
  
• Unreported Income Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from the Internal Revenue Service claims that a possible fraud attempt involving unreported income has been discovered by the tax agency and urges the recipient to click a link to review his or her tax statement.
  
  
• Google Promotion Award Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has won a large sum of money in a "Promotion Award" operated by search engine giant, Google.
  
  
• Bell Canada Phishing Scam Email
  Email purporting to be from Bell Canada claims that, due to a problem with a recent bill payment, the customer is required to click a link and update billing information via an online form.
  
  
• Canada Revenue Agency Tax Refund Phishing Scam
  Email, purportedly from the Canada Revenue Agency, claims that the recipient can claim a tax refund by filling in an online form.
  
  
• Overdue Payments Advance Fee Scam
  Message claims that the recipient is owed payments of $5.5 million dollars and he or she should contact a specified "representation officer" to arrange transfer of the funds.
  
  
• Friend Stranded in Foreign Country Scam Emails
  Email supposedly from a person known to you claims that he or she is stranded without money or papers in a foreign land because of a robbery and asks that you send funds urgently via a wire transfer to help the person return home.
  
  
• St.George Bank Phishing Scam Emails
  Emails, purporting to be from Australia's St. George Bank, claim that the recipient needs to click a link to logon to his or account in order to update information, retrieve messages, or rectify specified problems with the account.
  
  
• Commonwealth Bank Phishing Scam Emails
  Emails, purporting to be from Australia's Commonwealth Bank, claim that the recipient needs to click a link to logon to his or account in order to update information or rectify specified problems with the account.
  
  
• Loteria Espana Scam Email
  Email claims that the recipient's email address has been randomly selected to win a large sum of money in a Spanish lottery.
  
  
• Nigerian Computer Scientist Advance Fee Scam
  Person posing as a computer scientist at a Nigerian bank claims that he can help procure the release of a large sum of money owed to the recipient that has been deliberately held up by other bank officials.
  
  
• Fake Facebook Login Phishing Scam
  Messages attempt to lure Facebook users into logging into bogus Facebook lookalike sites such as fbstarter.com.
  
  
• Expired Visa Card Notification Phishing Scam
  Email claims that the recipient's Visa account has expired and warns that, to stop the account being closed, he or she must renew it immediately by following a link in the message.
  
  
• Check The Size of Webmail Inbox Phishing Scam
  Email claims that the recipient's webmail inbox is close to its maximum size and instructs him or her to reply with the account username and password so that the database can be reset.
  
  
• Abbey Bank Suspended Access Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from the Abbey Bank requests the recipient to click a link to log on to his or her bank account in order to restore access.
  
  
• Delta Air Lines Passenger Itinerary Receipt Malware Emails
  Email purporting to be from Delta Air Lines provides details of a supposed ticket purchase and instructs recipients to open an attached file to view a passenger itinerary receipt.
  
  
• McDonald's Survey Phishing Scam Email
  Email, purporting to be from McDonald's, claims that recipients can get a $50 bonus for filling in a "quick 7 question survey".
  
  
• Children's Charity Job Offer Scam
  Email, purporting to be from the Finance Director of the "Children Support Foundation", offers the recipient a part time job receiving and processing payments.
  
  
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advance Fee Scam
  Scam email, purporting to be from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, claims that a diplomat has left a package for the recipient and asks him or her to reply in order to arrange delivery.
  
  
• Federal Reserve Bank "Phishing Attack Warning" Scam Emails
  Email purporting to be from the Federal Reserve Bank claims that U.S. Treasury Department has imposed restrictions on federal wire transfers due to a widespread phishing attack.
  
  
• Google 10th Anniversary Awards Lottery Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has won five hundred thousand pounds in a 10th anniversary promotion organized by Internet giant, Google.
  
  
• Sleeper Virus - Downadup or Conficker Worm Warnings Are
  Messages circulating via email, blogs, and online communities are warning computer users about a "sleeper" virus dubbed the "downadup" or "conficker" worm.
  
  
• Australian Tax Refund Scam Email
  Email, purporting to be from the Australian Taxation Office, claims that the recipient can receive a large tax refund by clicking a link in the message and filling out a web based form.
  
  
• Mumbai Terrorist Attack Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that the sender was badly injured in the November 2008 Terrorist Attack in Mumbai, India, and needs the recipient's help to distribute several million dollars to charity
  
  
• Quick And Easy Survey Phishing Scam
  Email claims that money will be credited to the recipient's account in return for filling out a "quick and easy" online survey.
  
  
• SMS Advance Fee Prize Scam
  Mobile phone SMS claims that the recipient has won a major prize in a rewards promotion and should call a specified number to find out further details.
  
  
• Obama Malware EmailsIn the wake of the US Presidential election, inboxes around the world are being hit by malware emails supposedly providing news about Barack Obama's historic win.
  
  
• Babysitting Overpayment Scam
  Overpayment scammers use many ruses to fool their victims, even pretending to require babysitters.
  
  
• Exxon Mobil International Award Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has been chosen as the beneficiary of the "Exxon Mobil International Award" and is eligible to receive 3 million US dollars.
  
  
• Fraud Transactions Warning Malware Email
  Email warns that the recipient's credit card has been involved in fraudulent transactions.
  
  
• ATM Card Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has been awarded a large sum of money and will be sent an ATM card that will allow access to these funds.
  
  
• American Airlines Loyalty Program Phishing Scam
  Email claims that the recipient can receive $50 from American Airlines for taking a short online survey.
  
  
• Internet Access Suspended Malware Email
  Email claims that the recipient's Internet access is going to be suspended because the 'Internet Service Provider Consorcium' has logged illegal activities from his or her computer.
  
  
• Virus Complaint Email Carries Malware
  Threatening "complaint" email accuses the recipient of sending emails containing viruses and instructs him or her to open an attachment supposedly containing email log files.
  
  
• Poverty Reduction And Eradication Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that the United Nations Organization Compensation Department has awarded the recipient the sum of 500,000 British Pounds as part of the "Poverty Reduction And Eradication" program.
  
  
• Webmail Account Phishing Scam
  Email claims that recipients must "confirm their account" by providing username and password details within three days or their webmail account will be closed.
  
  
• Internet Explorer 7 Latest Version Malware Email
  Email that appears to be from Microsoft instructs the user to download the latest version of Internet Explorer 7 by clicking a link included in the message.
  
  
• 'Buy Airplane Ticket Online' Trojan Email
  Email claims that the recipient has purchased an airline ticket online and should open an attached file to view an invoice and print out the ticket.
  
  
• Google AdWords Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from Google AdWords claims that the recipient's Google ads will be suspended unless payment information is updated.
  
  
• Wells Fargo Online Bank Account Update Scam
  Email claims that the recipient is required to update his or her Wells Fargo online bank account by clicking a link in the message.
  
  
• Not Able to Deliver UPS Package Malware Email
  Email purporting to be from delivery company, UPS, claims that a package sent by the recipient could not be delivered. The message instructs the recipient to open an attachment to print out an invoice.
  
  
• Lottery Scam Payment Requests - Sky Express Couriers
  Sequence of emails illustrates the procedure used by Internet fraudsters in a typical lottery scam.
  
  
• Nadezhda - Russian Dating Scammer
  Unsolicited email claims that "Nadezhda", a "nice young girl from Russia", is interested in you and would like to hear from you with the view to establishing a possible relationship.
  
  
• Loan Offer Scam Emails
  Unsolicited emails promise easily procured, low interest loans to recipients.
  
  
• Yahoo Account Phishing Scam Email
  Email claims that the recipient must supply account details within one week or his or her Yahoo account will be closed.
  
  
• Yahoo International Lottery Programme Scam
  Email purporting to be from Jill Nash, Chief Communications Officer at Yahoo! claims that the recipient has won $500,000 in the 'Yahoo International Lottery programme'.
  
  
• Research Project Money Mule Scam
  Email, supposedly from a freelance scientific researcher, offers the recipient part time work processing cheques and money orders in return for a percentage of the processed fees.
  
  
• British High Court Disclaim Form Lottery Scam
  Email claims that the recipient will be disqualified from receiving winnings from a lottery if he or she does not submit the required transfer fees immediately.
  
  
• Already Gone To Hospital Malware Email
  Threatening email claims that the sender will find you and cripple you and states that another person involved has already gone to hospital.
  
  
• Economic Stimulus Refund Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from the IRS claims that qualified recipients can receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund by clicking a link in the message and filling in an online form.
  
  
• United States District Court Subpoena Malware Email
  Email purporting to be a subpoena from the United States District Court informs recipients that they must appear and testify before a Grand Jury
  
  
• Visa Personal Password Phishing Scam
  Unsolicited email, purporting to be from Visa, instructs recipients to secure their credit cards by clicking a link and creating a personal password.
  
  
• Heineken Beer Company Promotion Scam
  Email purporting to be from the Heineken Bottling Company claims that the recipient has been awarded a large cash prize in a company promotion.
  
  
• Interpol Funds Recovery Scam
  Email claims that an agent from international police organization, Interpol, is attempting to recover and return funds stolen from the recipient during previous scam attempts.
  
  
• PayPal New Security Message Phishing Scam
  Email, purporting to be from PayPal, claims that you have a new security message waiting and are required to click a link to login to your account and read the message.
  
  
• Pay Up or I'll Kill You Scam Email
  Email claims that a paid assassin will kill you unless you pay a fee to cancel the contract.
  
  
• Fake Microsoft Critical Update
  Email claiming to be from Microsoft instructs recipients to click a link to install an "urgent" critical update for Windows computers.
  
  
• Chinese Olympic Committee Lottery Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has won a large sum of money in a lottery promotion organized by the Chinese Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
  
  
• Website Advertising Enquiry Scam
  Email sent to website owners claims to be an enquiry about buying links on the targeted website.
  
  
• Scam Victims Reimbursements Programme Scam
  Email purporting to be from the Nigerian Government Reimbursement Committee claims that the recipient has been listed as a victim of a 419 scam and is therefore eligible for a reimbursement of $150,000.
  
  
• An Overview of Phishing
  Phishing continues to be one of the most significant security threats facing Internet users. During 2007, scammers distributed millions of phishing scam emails that targeted many different entities. Phishing attacks are sure to continue in 2008 and scammers will use such attacks to steal money and identities from many new victims around the world.
  
  
• IRS Tax Refund Phishing Scam
  Email, purporting to be from the IRS, claims that the recipient is eligible for a tax refund and should click on an included link to access the refund.
  
  
• Puppy Giveaway Advance Fee Scam
  Email claims that a church worker based in Africa is looking for someone to adopt his English Bulldog and Yorkshire Terrier pups for free because he can no longer care for them properly.
  
  
• Freemasons' Grant Scam Email
  Email claims that The Freemason's Grand Charity has selected the recipient to be the beneficiary of a grant worth 1.5 million dollars.
  
  
• Yahoo Awards Scam Email
  Email claims that the recipient has won a large sum of money in a Yahoo Awards prize promotion.
  
  
• Anzhela - Russian Dating Scammer
  Email claims that "Anzhela", a young woman living in Russia, is searching for a man in another country with the view to developing a long term and loving relationship.
  
  
• Overseas Artist Job Offer Scam
  Emails claim that an artist needs a part time employee to process foreign cheques and money orders and will pay the employee a percentage of all funds processed
  
  
• Federal Trade Commission Complaint Scam
  Email purporting to be from the Federal Trade Commission claims that a complaint has been filed against the recipient.
  
  
• Merrill Lynch Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from Merrill Lynch claims that customers must urgently login to their accounts and provide five personalized security questions.
  
  
• Ministry Of Finance Non Residential Tax Lottery Scam
  Message, ostensibly from the "Ministry Of Finance" in the UK, claims that the recipient must pay Non Residential Tax before receiving supposed winnings from an international lottery.
  
  
• Loan Offer Advance Fee Scams
  Unsolicited emails from supposed loan agencies claim that the recipient can borrow money for any purpose at a low interest rate.
  
  
• Citizens Bank Money Manager Account Update Phishing Scam
  Email claims that Citizens Bank business or corporate customer must update their accounts by clicking a link and filling out an online form.
  
  
• Dating Fraud Spam Emails
  Unsolicited emails claim that the sender is a "nice girl" who is bored and would like to chat. The sender promises to send pictures to those who reply.
  
  
• Fake Membership Confirmation Emails
  Links in emails supposedly confirming membership of a website or online service actually lead to a trojan.
  
  
• Internet Dating Advance Fee Scam
  Would be lover supposedly interested in pursuing an intimate relationship with an online contact, eventually asks him or her to help transfer a large sum of money from overseas.
  
  
• Skype Phishing Scam
  Email claims that the recipient's Skype account has been suspended and requests that he or she re-activate the account by logging on and agreeing to a new Terms statement.
  
  
• Catholic Church Cash Grant Scam Email
  Email claims that the Catholic Church in Italy has awarded the recipient a large cash grant to be used for "personal, educational, and business development".
  
  
• Abnormal Activity From Your IP Alert Email
  Email, purporting to be from the "Abuse Team", claims that abnormal activity has been detected from the recipient's IP address and recommends that a patch be installed.
  
  
• Fake 4th Of July eCards Point to Trojan
  Message claims to be a 4th July celebration eCard notification email from a colleague or friend.
  
  
• Postcard From a Family Member Malware Email
  Email purporting to be an eCard notification from a family member leads to a website that can download malware to the recipient's computer.
  
  
• Internet Dating Scams
  Scammers regularly exploit people using Internet dating services or those seeking relationships online. Many people around the world have been duped into sending money to Internet fraudsters posing as would-be girlfriends or boyfriends.
  
  
• Iraq Soldier Advance Fee Scam
  Email, supposedly from Sgt. Chuck White Fitte, claims that the recipient's help is needed to move millions of dollars in cash out of Iraq.
  
  
• FBI Fraud Alert Lottery Scam
  Email purporting to be from the FBI claims that a previous Microsoft lottery notification sent to the recipient has been checked and found to be genuine.
  
  
• IRS Criminal Probe Scam Emails
  In late May 2007, scam emails purporting to be from America's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began hitting inboxes. The emails are designed to fool recipients into installing a trojan onto their computers.
  
  
• Microsoft World Lottery Scam
  Email claims that the recipient has won $1,000,000 dollars in an international lottery run by the Microsoft Corporation.
  
  
• Steve Irwin Nigerian Scam
  Email claims that Terri Irwin, the wife of fallen wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, needs the recipient's help to distribute a large sum of money to charity
  
  
• Dell Online Store Trojan Email
  Email claims to confirm a Dell Online Store credit card order for a digital camera worth $865 AUD.
  
  
• PayPal Billing Information Update Scam
  Email claims that the recipient's PayPal account will be suspended if billing information is not updated.
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz Prize Scam Email
  Email claims that the recipient has won a brand new Mercedes-Benz as well as a cash prize of £500,000.00
  
  
• Hackers Exploit Virginia Tech Tragedy
  Internet bottom-feeders began to capitalize on the Virginia Tech tragedy soon after the event.
  
  
• Customer Support Center Robot Worm Email
  Email, which masquerades as an automated ISP message, claims the recipient must install an attached security patch to stop a worm from spreading.
  
  
• Iran Missile Strike Worm Emails
  Inboxes are being hit by malicious emails with subject lines claiming there has been a missile strike launched against Iran or that war has been declared involving Iran, Israel or the USA.
  
  
• Lottery Scam Variation - Bogus Cheque to Cover Expenses
  Email claims that the recipient will be sent a small portion of the money they have supposedly won in a lottery in the form of a cheque. The recipient is instructed to bank the cheque and then wire a specified amount to a "tax agent" ostensibly to cover taxation on the winnings.
  
  
• Verified By Visa Phishing Scam
  Email claiming to be from Visa asks recipients to click a link and provide account information in order to activate the "Verified by Visa" security program.
  
  
• Australian Prime Minister Heart Attack Trojan Email
  Fake "news report" email claims that the Australian Prime Minister has been hospitalized after a serious heart attack.
  
  
• HM Revenue & Customs Tax Refund Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from UK tax agency, HM Revenue & Customs claims that the recipient can submit a tax refund request by clicking a link in the message.
  
  
• Ransomware Holds Your Files Hostage
  Malicious programs, called "ransomware", may trap files inside a folder that can only be accessed by entering a password held by a scammer.
  
  
• Storm Worm Hitting Inboxs Worldwide
  A trojan dubbed Storm Worm has been spreading rapidly and infecting computers around the globe.
  
  
• Hitman Payoff Scam Email
  Email claims that the sender has been paid to terminate you but he will cancel the contract if you pay him a large sum of money.
  
  
• UK National Lottery Scams
  Emails supposedly from the UK National Lottery claim that the recipient has won a large sum of money and must supply personal information to the "agent" in charge of the prize.
  
  
• "Question About Your Photo at flickr" Email Leads to Trojan
  Email claims that the sender is interested in finding out more about a photo posted on photo-sharing site flickr.
  
  
• Scam Baiting - Caution Required
  It is an increasingly common pastime to "bait" Nigerian scammers. However, scam baiters should approach this pastime with caution.
  
  
• Beck's Beer Promotion Scam
  Email falsely claims that the recipient has won Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros in a beer promotion from German brewer, Beck's.
  
  
• Fake Mail Server Report Message Carries Worm
  Mail server message claims that emails containing worms have been sent from the recipients computer.
  
  
• Fake Email Greeting Card Leads To Trojan
  An email that claims to be a Greeting Card notification from All-Yours.net actually points to a malicious trojan.
  
  
• New Graphic Site - Yahoo Mail Worm
  An email worm that arrives with the subject "New Graphic Site" has been posing a threat to users of Yahoo web-based email.
  
  
• Missed Call Phone Scam Warning Email
  Email message warns that answering a missed call on your mobile phone can lead to high phone charges when the caller attempts to claim a $40 prize by dialling another number
  
  
• New Zealand Police Notification Hoax Email
  Trojan carrying scam email, supposedly from the New Zealand Police, informs recipients that they are under suspicion and requests them to provide personal information.
  
  
• FBI Virus Emails - Sober Worm
  Email, supposedly from the FBI, claims the recipient has been logged visiting illegal websites but actually carries the Sober X worm.
  
  
• Nigerian Wolves In Sheep's Clothing
  Nigerian scam emails with a Christian orientation ask recipients to help distribute funds to charities.
  
  
• Osama Bin Laden Virus Emails
  Trojan bearing emails claim that Osama Bin Laden has been captured or hanged and asks recipients to open an attachment or follow a link for more information.
  
  
• Scammers Exploit Hurricane Katrina
  Scammers are using the Hurricane Katrina tragedy to steal money from unsuspecting Internet users.
  
  
• Terror Hits London Trojan
  Provides information about a trojan that arrives in an HTML email disguised as a CNN story about the London bombings in July 2005
  
  
• Michael Jackson Suicide Message Points to Trojan
  Email claims that singer Michael Jackson has made a suicide attempt and urgers the recipient to click on the link to read more information.
  
  
• Beware of Rogue Anti-Spyware Applications
  Warns consumers about unscrupulous anti-spyware vendors.
  
  
• Common Internet Scams - An Overview
  Provides an overview of some common Internet scams. Full reprint rights available.
  
  
• PBS Bill Payment Not Approved Scam Email
  Email claiming to be from Payroll and Business Services Ltd warns that a recent bill payment has not been approved and requests recipients to open an attachment to view transaction details.
  
  
• National Australia Bank Goes Bankrupt Scam Email
  Email claims that the National Australia Bank is going bankrupt and directs recipients to click on a link included in the message in order to read more information.
  
  
• Reserve Bank Of Australia Phishing Scam
  Phishing scam email falsely claims to be from the Reserve Bank of Australia and informs recipients that they are required to verify debit card account details.
  
  
• Fake Microsoft Security Patch Emails
  Provides information about fake Microsoft security patch emails that may carry or point to viruses.
  
  
• How to spot an Email Hoax - Guide to Recognizing Hoaxes
  This article outlines some strategies for spotting email hoaxes that may cross your inbox.
  
  
• Internet Worm SMTP Engines Explained
  It is very common to encounter a phrase such as "uses its own SMTP engine" when reading virus descriptions. This article briefly explains SMTP engines as they relate to Internet worms.
  
  
• Email Worm Spoofing - Spoofing Explained
  Email worm spoofing can make it appear that person A sent person B a worm-infected email when this was not the case. This article provides information about email worm spoofing.
  
  
• Sasser Worm Generating Havoc
  The Sasser worm and its variants generated havoc across the Internet during 2004.
  
  
• Read The Privacy Policy
  Supplying information on a website? This article explains why an important PC Security measure is to read the site Privacy Policy.
  
  
• Testing Your Online Security
  How secure is your computer system? Find out how to get detailed PC security reports for free.
  
  
• Read the Eula
  Usually click through the End User Licence Agreement? Find out why this is not a good idea for the PC security conscious end user.
  
  
• Testing your Email Security
  How well would your email client stand up to malicious attacks? Find out how to give your email system a thorough PC security fitness test.