Many of us know the importance of protecting our home PCs and laptops with antivirus software to stop criminal elements from hacking personal information but what about mobile phone antivirus?

The emergence in the past few years of smart mobile phones has lead us to a place where we can do just about anything on them. Checking emails, updating social networking sites, making bookings for hotels or hire cars can all be done with mobile phones and you can also order products from retailers using your credit or debit card information. 

With this in mind we should already protect our mobile phones with something similar to computer protection software. GetSafeOnline.org is a new government website designed to highlight to smartphone users about the possibility of criminals using data retrieved from mobile phones. In a survey they found more than 67% of users accessing the Internet via their mobile had no kind of mobile phone antivirus. 

Phones are traded in everyday and fraudsters can access former shopping accounts with ease should they fall into their hands. Because at the time it’s your own phone; passwords are often saved which means anyone can then shop with your money online. 

You can find a host of antivirus reviews online to help advise you on the best software for protection from fraudsters. By searching online you can find genuine remarks about the software from customers who have already used the products.  

A simple way to start protecting you mobile is to use the PIN function so only you can access the Internet from your phone. This along with being more careful about storing passwords will help prevent you becoming a victim of fraud.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

Computer security company BitDefender says Barclays’ customers have been the target of a new phishing attack.

It reported the phishing attack involved a trick email which tried to lure the Barclays customers to a false Barclays website. The email stated Barclays had been acquired by another company as a result of the lending crisis.

To increase the sense of urgency and the need to take swift action, the email used the words, “We temporarily suspend access to your user…”, plus the old chestnut, “…in order to avoid further action…” hinting that failure to do as the email said, would mean a cessation of banking services.

And the message contained a link which directed the readers of the message to the false website. Once on the false website – made to look like an official Barclays web space – the banks’ customers were being asked not only for their very sensitive five digit passcode, but also details of their memorable word. This detail is useful as its used as a password recovery hint for online bank accounts.

Nick Billington, BitDefender UK managing director, warned people to be on the watch for such blatant attacks. He said:
“Banks do not send out this type of message, under any circumstances. Users should approach any unsolicited message seeking personal data with extreme scepticism. If in doubt simply delete the email.

“But the most important thing to remember is not to click links in emails which require logins. It is good practice to always type website addresses in manually.”

How to protect yourself from phising scams

To help people avoid being taken for a ride by such scams, BitDefender reminds everyone of some common sense rules.

Firstly, use an anti-phishing filter, as well as tour other security applications provided by your security suite, before you browse onto your online bank account. Secondly, ensure that the site your bank’s site uses SSL encryption (Secure Socket Layer) and security authentication methods – look for the “https” prefix and the locked padlock.

Thirdly, avoid using a non-secured computer; don’t use any computer but your own and that should have good computer security applications running in the background. Fourthly, along the same lines as the previous point, do not ever use public computers to check your bank details.

And fifthly, if you are using your own laptop say on the road, do not use wireless connections unless they can be secured and encrypted. Wireless signals can be ‘captured’ and sensitive information hijacked; what’s known in the jargon as a drive by attack.

So, online banking is convenient and a useful tool, but always be aware that access to your account is what the cyber-criminals are after.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

From computers and laptops to a notebook or an iPhone; all of these and many more gadgets are around today to help us to access the internet wherever we may be. Antivirus protection is becoming a necessity.

We can be sitting at home, on the train to work or out on a Saturday night, but with the latest gizmos we can always access the net but this begs the important question: do you have the best antivirus to stop you from being phished?  

Antivirus PC software sometimes come installed on new computers and internet related equipment purchased but the phishers are changing their style everyday so you have to as well.

Phishing is the latest word for a type of computer hack where the hacker attempts to gain sensitive information like log-in details and passwords. It is totally illegal but finding the guys, girls or groups that carry out these types of scams is tricky so you need to make sure you are fully secure with up-to-date antivirus PC software.

How do I protect myself online?

If you are looking online for some of the top security PC software you will come across many companies that offer various protection packages.  

As well as using security PC software you may want to level some commonsense that will be invaluable when surfing the net. Many of us use social networking sites and phishers have been targeting the likes of Facebook and Twitter as a new way of gaining information.  

You can do a lot to protect yourself online and here a few ideas: 

• Limit your personal information you post on social networking sites.
• Do not accept friend requests from people you do not know.
• Never give personal information via these types of sites, even to friends.

 If you are concerned about internet security and are looking for antivirus PC software check out these special offers on antivirus software

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

As people rely on ever more complicated smartphones, it’s clear the information on a lost, or stolen phone, could be used for nefarious means and to combat this, F-Secure has launched F-Secure Anti-Theft for Mobile. Now days it is not just your computer that needs the best pc protection software.

It’s a stand-alone smartphone solution which has at its core three security solutions: remote locking, remote wipe and theft control.

F-Secure Anti-Theft for Mobile serves both the Symbian and Windows phone platforms.

The remote lock function works by a single SMS message which quickly locks the smartphone once it’s loss is discovered. The remote wipe function works in the same way, via one quick SMS message, but it instantly erases all the data on the phone. The theft control function comes into play if someone tries to change the SIM card. It locks the device and informs the registered owner of the new number.

Arnoud de Vaal, Director at F-Secure’s Mobile Business Unit, said:
“You carry your smartphone with you where ever you go, which means it can be particularly prone to being lost or stolen. Nowadays our mobiles contain a great deal of personal and confidential data that need protection. F-Secure’s standalone anti-theft software provides an easy and affordable way to make sure this information is not misused by anyone.”

F-Secure Anti-Theft for Mobile is an upgrade to the existing F-Secure Mobile Security and can be activated using the inbuilt automatic upgrade system and purchased for a fee.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

BitDefender, the creator’s of one of the industry’s fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software, has released some top tips for festive shoppers to take whilst online shopping.

Says BitDefender’s senior Antispam researcher Catalin Cosoi
“Taking advantage of the many benefits of online shopping like competitive pricing, great selection, or even freebies like zero shipping fees and free gift wrapping, doesn’t have to cost consumers more than they’ve bargained for.

“By being aware of a few key issues, consumers can shop safely with the knowledge they need to protect their personal information and their PC.”

First top tip is know where you’re shopping from and read the small print. BitDefender are keen to remind people that not every website is legimate, with some cybercriminals either creating virtual copies of well known branded sites, or creating their own very convincing merchant sites. In short, only buy from those who are genuine high-street, or online retails.

Second top tip is beware of those online merchants who want more than your name and email address in order to cash in a coupon. Remember that a legitimate site will not ask for more than is necessary to redeem the coupon. But many illegal and bogus sites target online shoppers with online promotions and to entice a consumer to enter personal information in order to receive coupons or other merchandise. This is then used elsewhere, mainly to build clone identities.

Third, and anyone who ignores this point do so at their peril, never use a PC to shop unless it has an up-to-date and properly working security suite on board. Surf, or email, without such a security suite and it’s only a matter of time before you become infected.

Fourth, stick to the sites you know and trust, or have used successfully before. If unsure about a site, have a look in the chat rooms and forums, and see if there are any rumours, or gossip.

Fifth – remember the old adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch. You must be very wary of special offers, or unbelievable deals. They can often end with your computer being infected.

Sixth tip; use credit cards where possible, as they offer more protection than debit cards, and even better, see if you can pay cash on delivery.

Finally, look out for the https connection to a website. It’s not a guarantee of safety, but most of the sites thus connected are safe.

Guest Article by Neil Camp