Cyber thieves now turn to smart phones

In a major shift in cybercrime trends, scammers are now moving their focus from Microsoft’s Windows-based computers to other operating systems and platforms including smart phones, tablet computers and mobile platforms.

According to Cisco’s 2010 Annual Security Report, 2010 was the first year in the Internet’s history when the volume of spam decreased.

The report attributes this to the introduction of enhanced security features in new computer operating systems and PC platform and applications.

“As a result, scammers are finding it harder to exploit platforms that were their key focus. Just as important in driving this trend is the widespread adoption of mobile devices and applications,” notes the Cisco report, adding that third-party mobile applications are emerging as a serious threat vector.

The report further notes that as the cybercriminal economy expands and criminals gain access to even more financial credentials, there is a growing demand for money mules — people recruited to set up bank accounts, or even use their own bank accounts, to help scammers “cash out” or launder money.

“Money mulling operations are becoming more elaborate and international in scope, and Cisco security experts anticipate they will be a major focus of cybercriminal investment in 2011,” states the report, adding that most cybercrime exploits not only technology but also other human tendencies that lead to misplaced trust.

The report lists seven weaknesses that cybercriminals exploit through social engineering scams — via e-mails, social networking chats or phone calls: sex appeal, greed, vanity, trust, sloth, compassion and urgency.

The Cisco report comes just after mobile handset maker Nokia warned users of its phones not to respond to dubious messages sent as text messages.

In an alert issued to users of its handsets, Nokia warned mobile phone users of the re-emergence of a scam suggesting that people have won money or mobile phones, which in reality, is an attempt to get private information from people who reply to the messages.

The hoaxers previously used to send such messages to email addresses telling people they had won a Nokia device, but the scam has now moved on and is being sent out to mobiles phones via SMS, with the message suggesting people have won a free Nokia, and just need to provide their bank details to claim the free phone.

 “We would like to clarify that, those messages are not coming from Nokia and that we do not do money lotteries. We are asking people to beware, and realise that this ‘lottery’ is a scam,” said Kenneth Oyolla, Nokia’s East and Southern Africa general manager.