The Buzz: Phishing schemes are
all about deception, and recently
some clever phishers have added
a new layer of subterfuge called
the secure phish. It uses the padlock
icon indicating that your
browser has established a secure
connection to a Web site to lull
you into a false sense of security. According to Internet security
company SurfControl, phishers have begun to outfit
their counterfeit sites with self-generated Secure Sockets
Layer certifi cates. To distinguish an imposter from the genuine
article, you should carefully scan the security certifi cate
prompt for a reference to either “a self-issued certifi cate” or
“an unknown certifi cate authority.”
Bottom Line: I’ve long worried that phishers weren’t doing
more to secure my stolen personal information. Seriously,
though, most standard tips still apply: Don’t click links in
unsolicited e-mail or IM, enter URLs by hand, and use countermeasures
such as Netcraft’s free Anti-Phishing Toolbar
Would love to here from you...