“Phishing” scams trick web users into downloading an infected file, clicking a toxic hyperlink, or giving up private information.  Increasingly, phony offers on social networking sites and text messages (also known as SMiShing) are also used to target mobile devices as well.  The end result of successful phishing attempts differs from one scam to the next, but the most common types of attack result in a hacker gaining access to sensitive information (like the password to your online banking site or your email account), access to the information you store on your laptop or mobile device, or even control of your device

Some phishing scams rely on widely recognized brand names to cash in on your trust, as in the case of the “Wallmart” phishing attack last week.  A more sophisticated strategy known as “spear phishing” targets people who are thought to be using a specific credit card, bank, or other online payment system before sending fraudulent messages.  Most of us are more likely to open a message we think is sent from our bank than from a bank we’ve never used.

As a rule of thumb, if you are at all unsure about the origin of your email (as with an unprompted “Thank you for your purchase!” message), do not click on links contained in that email. Instead, go directly to the website domain to check your account and search for the sale or offer described. And remember: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim

Realizing that you might have opened yourself to a phishing attempt can be pretty scary, so if you think you’ve downloaded a fishy file or clicked a dubious link, there are several steps you can take:

1.) Change your passwords. If you believe your email account, online banking or payments information, or social media account has been compromised, change your login information as soon as possible.  This could stop a phisher from accessing your account, or at least prevent him from doing any serious damage.

2.) Update your security software. Make sure that your antivirus or cross-device security software like McAfee LiveSafe is up-to-date on ALL of your devices (smartphones, laptops, PCs, Macs, or tablets).  And if you’ve downloaded a file or visited a website that might have infected your device, run a security scan and wipe any questionable items.

3.) Check your financial records. Even if you’re unaware of an initial phishing attack, your bank and credit card statements will reveal if your information was compromised. As a best practice, thoroughly check your statements each month, and if you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately contact your bank directly via phone to place a fraud alert on your account.

The world stops. Nothing else matters (particularly not school work). Love takes over… You are Sitting On Top Of The World (to use Delta Goodrem’s expression!)

When you are in love (and not particularly worldly) you may just assume that sharing everything is fine – whether it is saliva, chairs or passwords!! In fact – you may even consider it to be the ultimate sign of your love!!!

Well, I am here to intervene. Sharing private data is NOT OK and as parents, we have to make sure our teens understand this CLEARLY. Sharing information increases the likelihood of their personal data being leaked and their identity being stolen. As most of us know, teen love doesn’t always last forever. Painful breakups can often result in hurt feelings and less than ideal behaviour!

A recent McAfee survey entitled, Love, Relationship and Technology, showed that almost 50% of Aussie share passwords with their partners and 67% share their bank account details. Unfortunately, 10% of Aussies have had their personal content leaked without their permission and 5% of ex-partners have threatened to expose risqué photos of their ex loves. Some very good reasons NOT to share!!

So, if your teens are ‘in lurve’ and maybe tempted to share a little too much, please tell them that it is NOT OK. Encourage them to use a password or pin on their phones (to avoid anyone accessing their private content) and to NEVER share passwords!! It may just prevent a whole lot of heartache!

Till next time,

Alex xx

Our teens are often described as digital natives – they’ve never known life without the online world. They seem to have technology running through their veins and are therefore often appointed as the ‘IT Directors’ of their households! And whilst I am in awe of their abilities, I do believe they would benefit from some formal (and supportive) instruction on how to use social media and most importantly, protect themselves online.

I was delighted to be part of McAfee and Life Education’s recent launch of bCyberwise, a cyber education program which will be offered to Aussie primary school students through Healthy Harold and the Life Education program from 2013. This innovative program will teach 8, 9 and 10 year olds how to stay safe online and help them develop positive online communication skills.

But when it comes to the ‘how to’ and our teens, I really believe our 13 -18 year olds could benefit from some ‘tips and tricks’ sessions on using social media. As parents, we know how much better it is to learn a new skill properly from the beginning. Imagine how much savvier our teens would be online if they were shown how to navigate Instagram, Twitter or Facebook by a trusted adult or teacher who has their best interests at heart!

Right from the start, they could learn how to set up their privacy settings, block or defriend friends and how to get help in case of an online issue. Definitely a much better option than learning the hard way!

What do you think? Should schools teach kids how to use social media the right way?

Take care,

Alex x

But now school has begun and the dust has settled. Phew! So, I have to ask – did Santa bring you or your children any new devices? Perhaps he popped a new laptop, tablet, smartphone or Xbox under the tree.

Well, if you are the lucky owner of a flash device it is SO important to remember that the first step in enjoying your tablet or smartphone is to protect it. Yes – cyber scrooges do exist and spend much time and effort designing malicious software (malware) that can steal your personal information. Apologies for ruining your post-holiday high!

However, if you spend some time protecting your devices, you can keep your gadgets (and your family) safe and protected year round.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Smartphones

• Only download apps from a reputable store and always read reviews.
• Use a password or pin to restrict access to your phone.
• Protect the data on your phone by using a product that can back up and restore your information.

Apple Products (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch)

• With Mac Malware on the rise, install security software developed for the Mac.
• Check out Apple’s iCloud service for syncing and securing data.

New PC or NetBook

• Ensure your computer has comprehensive security software that includes (at a minimum) anti-virus, a two-way firewall, anti-spyware, anti-phishing and safe search capabilities.
• Please opt for data protection that can backup and restore.

And, most importantly, educate your kids about staying safe online. Ensure your computer is in a high traffic area and discuss what can and can’t be shared online, such as phone numbers. Use a web filtering tool to protect kids from accessing inappropriate content and most importantly, don’t assume your child doesn’t know how to turn off parental controls!

So, in order to help you stay one step ahead of the cybercriminals (and your kids!), invest in active, comprehensive protection for all the devices you use to access the Internet. Why not check out McAfee All Access. To learn more, visit www.mcafee.com/au/allaccess.
Until next time,

Alex

And teaching your kids about online safety is absolutely the same. It takes time, vigilance and know-how to be able to educate your kids on how to safely navigate our digital world. It is so much more than a quick afternoon’s chat.

I believe that we as parents are responsible for our children’s safety in both the online and offline world. We would never let our children cross busy roads or highways and just assume they automatically knew how to navigate the risks and dangers. Online safety should be no different. Educating our kids about cyber safety should be a top priority for parents.

The recent launch of bCyberwise, a cyber safety learning module developed by Life Education and McAfee, will support Aussie parents in educating their kids about cyber safety. Kicking off in early February 2013, bCyberwise will be offered by the popular Healthy Harold and the Life Education team to year 3 and 4 students and will provide them with core life skills in cyber safety, cyber security and online behaviour.

Cyber education programs such as bCyberwise are fantastic and will give our Primary School students the tools to manage some of the ‘trickier’ situations they may encounter online as teens. But they must be seen as a support not a substitute for active parental cyber education.

And in order to be an active cyber educator, you need to be able to ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’. So, get involved in your child’s online world. Join the social media sites or games your child has signed up for. Spend some time understanding how each social media site works: how do you set up the privacy settings? How can you block people?

Not only will this experience help you better understand your child but you will be able to guide them in making their online experiences safer and more enjoyable – the perfect start to being a cyber educator! And I have no doubt you will also get a bit of ‘tech cred’ which can be very handy when you are having tricky conversations, particularly with your teens!

Until next time,

Alex

An extension of the much loved program offered by Life Education to Australian schools, bCyberwise was developed using McAfee’s expertise in security to create relevant content on the risks our children face in the online world.

The bCyberwise module has been designed specifically for year 3 and 4 students to provide them with tools and strategies to manage the digital age. Using engaging presentations, videos, lively discussion, role plays and problem solving, 8, 9 and 10 year olds will be given the opportunity to learn and practice core life skills in three categories: cyber safety, cyber security and online behaviour.

And the best news – it will kick off this year – in 2013 with over 600,000 Aussie students set to benefit from it!

But what I love most about bCyberwise is that it is targeting Aussie kids at the right age. We don’t have to be psychologists to know that behaviour becomes entrenched from a young age. So if children are not properly educated about cyber safety from a young age then they will not be prepared to handle the situations they will face online as teenagers.

So, well done to Healthy Harold and McAfee for arming Aussie Primary School students with the tools to help them have a positive and safe digital future.

For more information on McAfee’s Cyber Education programme, please visit http://www.mcafeecybered.com

Alex xx

Whether it is ‘noob’ or ‘epic fail’ (all said with a huge dose of attitude!) the linguistic chasm between us just seems to get wider.

But when it comes to kids’ online vocab, I am a big believer in developing a full understanding! As parents it is our job to protect our kids both online and offline. So ensuring you have a full understanding of what your kids are doing and saying online is imperative.

It is no secret that kids are using a complex series of acronyms to communicate with each other online. So, in the interests of fostering a greater understanding (and ensuring you have a bit of ‘tech cred’), here is a list of the most commonly used slang and its meaning:

LOL – Laugh Out Loud (not lots of love)

POTS – Parents Over Shoulder

CD9 – Code 9 which means parents are about

KPC – Keeping Parents Clueless

PAW – Parents Are Watching

POP – Parents On Prowl

ROFL – Rolling On The Floor Laughing

1,2,3,4,5 – Typing the numerals 1 to 5 means parent are reading the screen

NMU – Not Much, You?

BRB – Be Right Back

IDK – I Don’t Know

ASL – Age, Sex, Location

Has anyone noticed a theme? Yes – lots of effort goes into ensuring that ‘us parents’ are not able to view our teens’ online activity!  In a recent study entitled The Secret Life of Teens by McAfee it was shown that 67% of Australian teens aged 13-19 said their parents do not know everything they do online.

Mmmm! So next time you are shoulder surfing your teen, look out for the Internet slang – it may just help you understand your teen a little bit more.

Till next time.

Alex

So, as parents of teenagers (who can freely join Facebook from the age of 13) it is not really a question of ‘Should They Be Online?’ but rather ‘How To Keep Them Safe Online’. Protecting your privacy and managing your reputation should always be the highest priority when you are online. But, when you are 15 and completely consumed with friends, parties and new shoes; privacy and reputation are not really on your radar!

Here are a few of my favourite tips for helping my boys stay safe on Facebook.

1. Only befriend people you really know – Cybercriminals can pretend to be teens with the aim of stealing your personal information. Block anyone who threatens or harasses you.
2. Passwords – Create a strong password (use numbers, symbols and spaces) and change it regularly. Never share it!
3. Set the security settings on your profile to ‘Only My Friends’ to help give you control over who has access to your info and pictures.
4. Monitor pictures you have been tagged in. Under your profile picture, you can click on ‘photos of you’ to view. Ensure any inappropriate pictures are removed and untag yourself from pictures that you aren’t comfortable with. You might also be interested in checking out McAfee Social Protection – an app for Facebook that protects users’ photos from being shared without their permission.
5. Never share personal information (such as your date of birth) on your Facebook page. This could help a cybercriminal create a false identity or provide clues to your passwords.
6. Never ‘Check In’ or post information about an upcoming holiday. Why give people information about when your home will be empty!
7. Think before you post! Your online life forms your digital reputation and could affect school leadership positions and job prospects down the track.
8. Treat others the way you would like to be treated online. No exceptions!

If you are feeling a little unsure as to whether you should ‘stick your nose’ into your teen’s business, let me assure you that their online life is absolutely your business. As parents, we are responsible for our kids both offline and online.

So, strap them in the car (so they can’t escape) or buy them hot chips – whatever you need to do so you can talk with them about Facebook safety.

And remember, you are not being nosey – you are doing this because you love them!

I mean, what is not to love? No carpark wars, ridiculous register queues or sweaty scrambles to secure that ‘must have’ Xbox game. It really is the best Christmas present ever!

And it seems more and more of us are embracing online shopping with research commissioned by McAfee showing that 60% of Aussies are planning to purchase gifts online this Christmas – double that of 2011!

Unfortunately, this great flurry of online activity provides cybercriminals with the perfect opportunity to try and destroy the Christmas spirit. To make sure you don’t become a victim of an online scam this Christmas, I am going to share with you the top 12 scams you need to avoid this silly season.

1. Social media scams – Avoid ‘special deals’ that come from your friends advertising the latest gifts or holiday deal on sites such as Facebook and Twitter – it could be the work of a hacker! Also avoid clicking on links for special discounts – these might be malicious.

2. Malicious mobile apps – Avoid downloading a malicious app that could steal your personal information. Only download from a trusted source.

3. Travel scams – Make sure you are not booking your holiday on a phony travel webpage designed only to get your financial details.

4. Holiday spam/phishing – Spam emails are also seasonal – they will soon take on a festive holiday theme. Remember never to respond to a spam email, or click on an included link.

5. iPhone 5 and iPad Mini scams – These hot gifts will be used in dangerous links, phony contests and phishing emails as a way to grab your attention to share your personal information or click on a dangerous link.

6. Skype message scare – Be aware of a new Skype message scam that attempts to infect machines and even hold files for ransom. Remember never to click on a suspicious link, even if it appears to come from someone you know.

7. Bogus Gift Cards – Be wary of buying online gift cards from third parties; it’s best to buy from the official retailer. They may be fake!

8. Holiday SMishing – Phishing via text message. Just like with email phishing, this is where a scammer tries to lure you into revealing information or performing an action you normally wouldn’t do by pretending to be a legitimate organisation. Delete!

9. Phony E-tailers – Phony e-commerce sites designed to try and extract your personal financial information.

10. Fake Charities – these scams happen every year when the bad guys hope to take advantage of our generosity by sending spam emails advertising fake charities. McAfee recommends that if you want to give, it’s always safer to visit the charity’s legitimate website, and do a little research about the charity before you donate.

11. Dangerous E-Cards – Some can be malicious and contain viruses that download onto your computer once you click on the link to view the greeting. So beware and check to see that the sender is someone you actually know, and that there are no misspellings or other clues that the card is a fake.

12. Phony Classifieds – Beware of phony offers that ask for personal information or money.

Now, I know the list can seem a little overwhelming. But I promise, you can shop online safely this Christmas. I think something important to remember in the online world just as we do in the offline world is – if an offer sounds too good to be true – it usually is!

See you next time.

Alex xx

Alas. No rethink required. Rebecca had not developed a new hobby but had instead become a victim. Her email had been hacked.

Poor Rebecca was devastated. She just couldn’t work out how this had happened to her. She had Internet security software that she thought was safe as it had only recently lapsed, she had never shared her passwords with anyone and she didn’t think she had ever visited any strange websites.

So what went wrong? Well, unfortunately, hackers are a particularly clever species who have an array of ways of gleaning personal information from law abiding citizens such as Rebecca. Here are just a few of the ways you can prevent your email from being hacked:

1. Don’t fall victim to a phishing scam. Never respond to an unexpected email or website that asks you for personal information or your login details no matter how professional it looks.
2. Make sure you have comprehensive internet security software (that includes anti-spyware), and please keep it updated! Spyware hides itself on your computer, collects personal information about you and passes on your personal details without you knowing.
3. Avoid logging into your email from public places. Not only is there a greater chance of spyware on untrusted computers but some of them sport key logging programs which monitor and record the keys you strike on the keyboard – a great way of finding out your password!
4. Create strong passwords that include a variety of characters including numbers and symbols. Check out McAfee’s Security Advice Centre for some tips on how to create a strong password.
5. Never share your passwords and change your passwords regularly – at least every 6 months.

If your friends develop a sudden fascination with nether regions and enhancements, and are bombarding you with emails, please give them the benefit of the doubt and assume their email has been hacked. If not, it may be time to rethink your opinion of them!

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*My dear friend’s name was changed to protect her privacy.