| Consumers and companies are being victimized by | | | | of credit card and customer data to third parties. |
| spam e-mails offering counterfeit software and | | | | Beware of Trojan Horse and Other Attacks |
| pharmaceuticals. For the average consumer, his | | | | Purchasers from these Internet storefronts have |
| identity could be in jeopardy or he could | | | | also reported that viruses and "trojans" have |
| unknowingly be funding criminal activity initiated by | | | | appeared on their computers. Trojan horse |
| groups based in Eastern European countries. | | | | attacks pose one of the most serious threats to |
| The software industry's biggest problem in | | | | computer security. The result is that buyers of |
| Internet piracy over the past four years has | | | | pirated software also often unknowingly |
| been caused by Internet storefronts that sell | | | | propagate spam, since their computers are |
| pirated software for pennies on the dollar. The | | | | secretly "hijacked" and turned into spamming |
| criminal activities of these counterfeit spammers | | | | robots. |
| extend beyond software piracy. They include | | | | Here are some practical tips to avoid getting |
| threats to public safety such as counterfeit | | | | infected: |
| pharmaceuticals, child pornography and identity | | | | 1. Never download blindly from people or sites of |
| theft. | | | | which you are not 100 percent sure. |
| Criminal Operation | | | | 2. Even if the file comes from a friend, you still |
| The perpetrators reach consumers via mass | | | | must be sure what the file is before opening it. |
| spam e-mail, as well as ads on popular search | | | | 3. Beware of hidden file extensions. |
| engines. They lure customers to Internet | | | | 4. Never use features in your programs that |
| storefronts that appear legitimate, and then | | | | automatically open or preview files. |
| deliver unauthorized copies of products to them | | | | 5. Never blindly type commands that others tell |
| via both postal mail and electronic download. | | | | you to type, go to Web addresses mentioned by |
| According to industry estimates, the criminals | | | | strangers, or run prefabricated programs. |
| make more than $10 million annually for software | | | | 6.Don't be lulled into a false sense of security just |
| that sells legitimately for more than $100 million. | | | | because you run anti-virus programs. |
| Illegal revenue is generated in two ways: directly | | | | 7. Don't download an executable program just to |
| from the illegal activity, whether it involves | | | | "check it out." |
| software, pharmaceuticals or child pornography; | | | | 8. Finally, if the price is too good to be true, it's |
| and identity theft via the unauthorized reuse of | | | | probably counterfeit. |
| harvested credit card information and the resale | | | | |