Instant Messaging - Expressway For Identity Theft, Trojan
By By Dee Scrip ©All rights reserved, Sat Dec 10th
Never before with Instant Messaging (IM) has a more vitalwarning been needed for current and potential IM buddies whochat on line.
John Sakoda of IMlogic CTO and Vice President of Products statedthat,
"IM viruses and worms are growing exponentially….Virus writersare now shifting the focus of their attack to instant messaging,which is seen as a largely unprotected channel into theenterprise."
Because Instant Messaging operates on peer-to-peer (P2P)networks, it spawns an irresistible temptation for maliciouscomputer hackers. P2P networks share files and operate onindustry standard codec (encyrption codes) and industry standardprotocols, which are publicly open and interpretable. Anti virussoftware does not incorporate protection for Instant Messagingservices.
Like sharks in a feeding frenzy, these hacker mercenaries viewInstant Messaging clients as their personal “Cash Cow” becauseof the ease by which they can access your computer via thepublicly open and interpretable standards, unleash a Trojanhorse, virus, or worm, as well as gather your personal andconfidential information, and sell it to other depravedreprobates.
Please, don’t be naïve enough to think it won’t or couldn’thappen to you!
Want to see how easy it is for hackers to access your InstantMessaging chat and what can happen to you as a result?
Did you know that some hacker-friendly providers offer processorchips that can be bought on the Internet? (I guess it would bepretty hard to walk into a store and ask the clerk to help themfind a processor chip that could be used to illegally hack intoa victim’s computer for the sole purpose of spreading maliciouscode or stealing someone’s identity!)
Did you know that hacker-friendly providers actually offerhacker software that enables these criminals to deliberatelydisable security on computers, access your personal andconfidential information, as well as inject their Trojan horses,viruses, and worms?
Hacker manuals are also conveniently accessible via theInternet. One of these manuals shows how to DoS other sites.DoSing (Disruption of Service) involves gaining unauthorizedaccess to the “command prompt” on your computer and using it totie up your vital Internet services. When a hacker invades yoursystem, they can then delete or create files and emails, modifysecurity features, and plant viruses or time bombs onto yourcomputer.
“Sniff” is a tool (originally intended to help telecommunicationprofessionals detect and solve problems) that reprobate hackersuse to tamper with the protocol and “sniff out” data. Whenhackers sniff out your IM data packet from Internet traffic,they reconstruct it to intercept conversations. This enablesthem to eavesdrop on conversations, gather information, and sellit to other depraved criminal entities.
Don’t set yourself up to be the next Identity Theft Victimbecause you like to chat using Instant Messaging.
Identity theft is one of the most sinister of vulnerabilitiesyou can inadvertently be subjected to. Identity theft is definedby the Department of Justice as
“…the wrongful obtaining and using of someone else’s personaldata in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically foreconomic gain.” Identity theft is the by-product of hackermercenaries obtaining your social security number (includingthose of your spouse and children), your bank account, yourcredit card information, etc., from the Internet. You become avirtual “Cash Cow” for hackers as your information is then soldto other felons for financial gain. Using your information,these criminals then:
·access your bank account funds ·create new bank accounts withyour information ·create driver’s licenses ·create passports
Attorney General Ashcroft stated that,
"Identity theft carries a heavy price, both in the damage toindividuals whose identities are stolen and the enormous cost toAmerica's businesses.”
A group hosting a website known as shadowcrew.com was indictedon conspiracy charges for stealing credit card numbers andidentity documents, then selling them online. While this groupallegedly trafficked $1.7 million in stolen credit card numbers,they also caused losses in excess of $4 million.
According to a Press Release issued by the Department of Justiceon February 28, 2005, a hacker was convicted of several countsof fraud, one in which
“…he fraudulently possessed more than 15 computer usernames andpasswords belonging to other persons for the purpose ofaccessing their bank and financial services accounts, openingonline bank accounts in the names of those persons, andtransferring funds to unauthorized accounts.”
Trojan Horses, Viruses, and Worms – The Toxic Trio
According to Dictionary.com, a Trojan horse is “…a subversivegroup that supports the enemy
