iPad2 "Give-aways" = ID Theft Too

It's lighter, thinner, faster, more elegant and at the top of any iFan's "I-want-one-of-those" list. Yes, it's the iPad2, released in the UK on March 28th. I admit as I type this blog entry on my "old" iPad1 that I will be eager to get my hands on the new version when it comes out, but not so eager as to fall for the many scams that invariably follow its launch.

High-end, big ticket electronics are a favourite of scammers looking to make a quick buck. The iPad2 is no exception and so please be warned that in the weeks before and after its launch there will no doubt be a flood of email campaigns and websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals on iPad2. They will lure you in with "free" give-aways, "buy one get on free" offers and large discount deals. The fact of the matter is that this just isn't the Apple operating model and these offers and deals are guaranteed scams.

More information to come as this develops, but for the time being, please don't be fooled into the free iPad2 scams that are already out there.

CyberCrime 2011: What to watch out for...

January is usually an exciting time of year (work wise) for someone like me, with all the security reviews of the previous year and lots of predictions about what we will be "fighting" in the next 12 months. For the most part, the security experts that put these predictions together are pretty accurate in what they say about the threats to our online identities in the coming year. After my previous post on New Year's resolutions, and highlighting some of the basic steps you can take to protect yourself, I thought I would do a quick wrap-up of my top 3 predictions being made for 2011...

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Facebook Credits: A new global currency or a new fraudster go-to-market channel?

Earlier this year Facebook, the world’s largest social network, announced the launch of its new Facebook Credits programme. Facebook Credits are a virtual currency used to buy virtual goods in many of the affiliate games and applications on the Facebook platform. Until recently you were only able to buy the virtual currency using your credit card, PayPal account or mobile phone through the Facebook platform itself. Now Facebook have expanded the purchase options, forming key strategic partnerships with Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Radio Shack in the US and Tesco in the UK...

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WikiLeaks; Right, Wrong or Redefining Normal?

November 28th, 2010 was the start of what fast became known on the internet as "CableGate". This was data leakage at a level never before seen or acknowledged by the general public. What has become so evident in the last week or so, is how much support Wikileaks is getting from the internet community. All manners of social networking are driving the spread of the cablegate phenomonon to extreme levels, prompting reactions, statements and comments from world leaders. This is a true demonstration of the power of the internet, good or evil? You decide...

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Plastic Fantastic: Cards Overtake Cash

I was really intreagued by a FinExtra article this morning that discussed the fact that for the first time ever, spending on debit cards was higher than spending of notes and coins. The report from the UK Payments Council also highlights that there has been a huge increase of purchases made using debit cards as opposed to cash. Compared with the same period last year, UK consumers are making an extra 1.6 million purchases per day. Another hint at the decline of the use of cash is the fact that withdrawals from cash machines fell by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009...

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