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Spam is Becoming More Intricate – Are You Informed? |
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Be aware there are some intricate and devious spam messages being created in hopes of tricking people into revealing information and it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine what is and what is not authentic. How do you tell that an email is truly from the sender?
Recently I received an email from Wachovia Bank (see below IntricateSpam) – since I don't use Wachovia Bank for anything, I was immediately suspicious that the email was spam although it made it through our message screen spam filter. Looking further into the email I saw it contained a URL – the URL was displayed as simply http://wc.wachovia.com but, since a frequent trick in spam is to provide a seemingly authentic URL and mask it by using HTML methods, I looked at the ACTUAL reference of where this link was going to send someone and the link was set to (WARNING DO NOT COPY & PASTE THIS LINK) :
http://wc.wachovia.ibsidcmopserver.cmserver.access2715651.default.servletdologin.verify.cfm.xcxes.com/index.htm
IntricateSpam
This link at first glance seems to be authentic as it starts with wc.wachovia, but when you look at the actual domain name (following the link to its root level) you find that the domain where the webpage actually resides is XCXES.COM. This is more than likely NOT a Wachovia website. Clearly this is an intricate spam message and one where the spammers/scammers have gone to great length to make the email appear authentic in hopes of capturing online banking information from unsuspecting people. Even visiting XCXES.COM reveals a website setup to look like a Wachovia Bank online banking session login screen (See XCXES)
XCXES
The bottom line is, be vigilant and question any email that you are not expecting regarding any usernames/passwords or account information. Don't click on links within emails unless you are absolutely sure of the source of the email and/or the purpose of the link.
Contributed by: Douglas Rahn
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Are You Funding Terrorism? |
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More and more often we are hearing stories of terrorism and data theft, but how often do we truly put the two together? Recently IND's Vice President of Sales and Partnerships learned just how important this issue is to all of us.
I wanted to share an experience from last December that had me thinking a lot. While visiting Baltimore for the annual Army-Navy football game, I had the opportunity to meet with an active duty Colonel who also has internet security responsibility for a separate government agency. As we explored various topics around data management based upon my professional responsibilities, he enlightened me how data theft is being used to fund terrorism.
As a consumer, I have always been somewhat cautious about credit card fraud and identity theft, but I always felt that the couple of times I became a victim was due to a technology-enabled petty criminal in a far-away state. When I learned what is going on systematically at an international level, and how our digital economy feeds terrorism, I changed my mind a bit. What was personal took on additional importance as a national security concern.
My reason for sharing this with you is simple. IND has always taken our clients’ need for protection of data networks very seriously, yet information like that gleaned from this security expert underscores its importance to all of us.
Please don't wait but look into taking all precautions to secure your IT environment, both personally and professionally. For more information click here.
Contributed by: Timothy Thew
Title: Vice President of Sales & Partnerships
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Microsoft Windows Live SkyDrive |
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Secure file and data storage when you are one the go can be a crucial part of those of us that travel for business. In a world where even an extra milisecond can be the cost of being late for the next place you need to be, you don't always have time to wait on your VNC, PPTP, or any other complex/complicated connection to your company's file server. That being the case, Microsoft created a password-protected online file storage system through Windows Live, called SkyDrive.
For each folder you create, you choose who has access to it. You can add new folders, rename them, or change who has access at any time, just like you would on the companyies file server or even your own PC harddrive. This is a great solution for those company's that are very small or most of their employees are remote. They may also just not have the money for a file server because of their size.
Always where you need them
5 GB of free online storage, available from any computer with Internet access.
Create personal, shared, and public folders -- you decide who has access to each folder.
Windows Live SkyDrive works well on any Windows or Macintosh computer with Firefox 1.5 or higher, or Internet Explorer 6 or higher.
How we help protect your files
Your personal folders are password-protected with your Windows Live ID, so only you have access.
When you create a shared folder, the friends you're sharing with need to sign in with their own Windows Live ID and password.
Just like at your online bank, all file transfers are protected using Secure Socket Layers (SSL).
Personal
Use personal folders to back up important files that are only for you.
Get to your files from any computer with Internet access by signing in with your Windows Live ID.
Shared
Shared folders make it easy to collaborate with coworkers or classmates.
You decide how much control each person has over each shared folder. Some can just read what's there: others can add and delete files.
Everyone who is sharing uses their own Windows Live ID.
Public
With public folders, anyone on the Internet can view your files, but they can't change them.
Want to show your public files to others? Just send them a link! Each folder and file has its own web address.
