Scams

General Info -

Here are a few tricks that are generally known, but still in use.

Phishing

In a Phishing Scam a web-page or email (or both) has been created to simulate the web-page of (or an email from) a real company or financial institution.  You are then prompted to divulge sensitive information (such as your PIN number or Social Security number).  Many look quite convincing.  They may cite "Security Concerns" or assume the persona of authority in some similar manner in order to justify the request.  Many will claim that the information must be handed over within a limited time-frame, or else some form of reprimand will be enacted.  This is to prevent you from looking too deeply into the matter, and to try to scare you into compliance.  NEVER TRUST UNEXPECTED REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM ANY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OR COMPANY.  If in doubt, call and ask.

Actually, you shouldn't even follow any "links" in such suspicious emails.  Even if you tell them nothing, following the link may be enough for them to "get in" and find the info themselves.

To read more about such scams, check out the main CU ITS site's info on Phishing here.

"Keystroke Logger"

One of the more sinister things that you could inadvertently download onto you computer just by following unfriendly links, clicking on evil pop-ups, or opening attachments sent in malevolent emails.  Such software actually records which keys are pressed on your keyboard and sends a report to the bad-guys.  So much for password protection.

Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses

Viruses are pieces of code that alter the behavior of a computer without the knowledge or permission of the computer's owner or user.  They can  cause memory loss, program failure, or cause your computer to behave in strange and possibly detrimental ways.  They execute themselves and replicate.  One infected computer can pass the virus to an entire network (such as the university's).

Worms are similar to viruses in that they are human written malicious software ("malware"), but are structured differently and differ in their mode of reproduction.  Whereas a virus is attached to a file or program, a worm is self contained.  Viruses often result in the infected computer behaving erratically, while a worm may operate in a very specific, coordinated way (e.g. acting as a "Keystroke Logger", discussed above).  When a worm exists on a computer, it scans the network to which the computer is connected.  It checks the other computers on this network for specific vulnerabilities that will allow the worm to reproduce itself across the network.  If computers with the proper vulnerabilities are detected, the worm copies itself onto these computers and begins scanning from them as well.  This reproductive function is separate from other malicious actions the worm may undertake on the host machine (e.g. fascilitating data theft).