According to the FBI, July and August are peak months for home burglaries, making it also prime time to take stock of your home security.
That’s why the New York City-based Insurance Information Institute suggests that everyone protect against “a physical or virtual break-in” during this crucial time.
There are many things a burglar can take from your home, the group said, but the most important thing is your identity.
According to the institute, identity theft insurance is available to repair credit reports and reimburse victims for the restoration of their identities.
August is peak time for home burglaries; tighten security
According to FBI statistics over 80% of burglaries are never solved - in over 4 out of 5 burglaries, the criminal gets away with it. Most burglaries are by forcible entry and most burglaries target homes.
Another amazing statistic was that only 16.5% of reported property crimes were cleared by arrest or exceptional means (2004 FBI Crime Report). This means that the majority of the reported burglaries were not resolved with an arrest. In plain English the burglars got away with the crime.
Home Security and Home Invastion Tips for 2006 - Free Press Release Distribution Service
A coalition including Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society and Oxford University’s Oxford Internet Institute with the support of several prominent tech companies, including Google, Lenovo, and Sun Microsystems and Consumer Reports WebWatch has banded together to fight “badware”, the groups generic term that includes spyware, adware and any other software which “fundamentally disregards a user’s choice over how his or her computer will be used”.
A: StopBadware.org is a “Neighborhood Watch” campaign aimed at fighting badware. We will seek to provide reliable, objective information about downloadable applications in order to help consumers make better choices about what they download onto their computers. We aim to become a central clearinghouse for research on badware and the bad actors who spread it, and become a focal point for developing collaborative, community-minded approaches to stopping badware.
StopBadware.org
A new security flaw has been exposed in Windows involving “Windows Metafiles” which typically have a .wmf filename extension. The flaw is rated as critical and no patch is yet available from Microsoft to fix the security hole. It is recommended that users not open or preview any files witha *.wmf extension and set Internet Explorer security settings to “High”.
The vulnerability has been confirmed on a fully patched system running Microsoft Windows XP SP2. Microsoft Windows XP SP1 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003/SP1 are reportedly also affected. Computers will be infected by programs from the Agent.acd family, if users visit unionseek.com or iframeurl.biz. The malicious programs are downloaded to the victim machine and launched via the WMF vulnerability. Agent.acd will then download other Trojan programs to the victim machine.
Source: Techtree.com India > News > Security > Windows Metafile Flaw Exploited
A new worm making the rounds of all the major Instant Messenging networks attempts to trick you into believing you’ve received a file from a friend. Click the file and you get a picture of Santa - plus a nasty little rootkit installed to your system that could give hackers control of your computer. As with email, you should not open any file attachment unless you are expecting it and know exactly what it is. If a friend sends a link or file by IM, message them back and ask what it is before you open it. If they say they didn’t send anything, it’s almost certainly a virus and should be deleted immediately. If they did send it, you should still scan it with an up to date antivirus program before opening.
The IM.GiftCom.All worm has made an appearance on several messaging networks, including America Online, Microsoft MSN, and Yahoo.
The worm attempts to dupe you into believing that a friend has sent you a link to a harmless file. If you click on the file, you see an image of Santa. While viewing it, the worm attempts to install a rootkit on your system.
Santa Worm Hits Messaging Networks - Computing -
Microsoft revealed a critical security flaw in its Internet Explorer Web browser and an important flaw in its Windows Operating System today. The critical flaw could allow a hacker to take complete control of a users computer.
Microsoft said the vulnerability exists in its Internet Explorer Web browser, which an attacker could exploit to take over a PC by running software code after luring users to malicious Web pages.
Microsoft also issued one other security warning it rated at its second-highest level of “important.”
Fixes can be downloaded at:
www.microsoft.com/security
Technology News Article | Reuters.com
Remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Then remember that you have never provided the IRS with your email address. So, when the message comes from “the IRS” that says you have a tax refund and takes you to the “IRS” website to enter credit card details - delete it or forward it to the proper authorities. The current one making the rounds takes advantage of a glitch in a government website to take you to that website first, making the email look more legitimate, but it’s really this simple - the IRS sends refund checks automatically in the mail as long as they have your current address. They don’t send refunds out by email. If you want to make sure you’re getting the refunds you have coming make sure IRS has your current address. If you’re still unsure, contact the IRS directly, but don’t click on phishy emails.
A spam e-mail message has been sent around the world telling people they are eligible for a $571.94 tax refund from the IRS. The e-mail offers a link to a fraudulent IRS Web site, but the link actually goes through a legitimate government Web site that only last month was promoted by President Bush.
“This is more advanced than the typical phish, because the Web link really does–at first–take you to the real tax benefit Web site,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for U.K. security vendor Sophos. “Unfortunately the way the government Web site has been configured allows the phishers to bounce the unwary in their direction.”
The link in the phishing e-mail goes to a forged IRS Web site that asks for a Social Security number, tax return filing code and credit card details including security code and PIN.
Phishers use IRS tax refund as bait | CNET News.com
A series of home invasion robberies in Newton County in southwest Missouri have been targeting elderly residents. The robbers rip out the phone lines, threaten the residents for cash and valuables and rough them up if they don’t cooperate. One resident summoned help by pressing her Medicalert bracelet, which scared away the robbers. In almost all cases the invasion began with a knock on the door. The local Sheriff Ken Copeland said, “If somebody you don’t know comes to your door, don’t open it, call the Sheriff’s office.”
The robbery of an elderly woman at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday on Old Scenic Route again involved two men who entered through the victim’s back door.
“They actually did shove her down,” Jennings said. “But they were not able to obtain anything because she had one of those electronic medical alerts, and when she activated it, it apparently scared them off.”
The woman did not require medical attention for any injuries suffered in the incident, he said.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 30 of every 1,000 households in the U.S. were burglarized in 2004. Such statistics may not induce you to install iron bars on your windows and hire a 24-hour security guard, but they should compel us to take home security seriously. After all, it takes only one robbery for you or your loved ones to lose your most valued possessions. Taking these easy steps can ensure that you’re doing all you can to prevent burglary.
- Invest in Solid Doors, Locks and Windows
- Conceal Valuables from Sight
- Install Outdoor Lighting
- Always Keep Valuables Locked
- Adopt Street-Smart Habits
- Get to Know Your Neighbors
- Report Suspicious Activity in Your Neighborhood
- Start a Community Watch Program
- Get a Dog
- Invest in a Home Security System
TheNewMexicoChannel.com - House and Home - Ten Steps To Home Security
In an ironic twist a scam artist in the Mission, Texas area has been posing as a salesman for home security service ADT. He collects cash from the homeowner to pay for an alarm installation and then is never seen again. As with any salesman, check the bona fides of alarm salesman. Call the company’s local office - using the number in the phonebook, not the one on the salesman’s business card. And don’t pay cash for something like this. Use a check made out in the company name.
One victim paid $2,300 for a security system, but has nothing more than some wires around his house.
Scam artist posing as home security salesman - NEWSCHANNEL 5
