How much do you know about computer fraud?


Recently in a U3A meeting we discussed Computer Fraud. We often do, or so it seems. If it’s not fraud, it’s security online, or scams and what’s done with our data … but more about that later!!!

This short post is just to alert people to a simple, short quiz (or test) that has been produced in conjunction with the UK Government to help people recognise fraudulent activity.

Go to this website, satisfy yourself it’s genuine and is a government backed initiative. According to the Daily Mail – so it must be true – only 9% of people taking a test were able to accurately recognise all the scams and false messages, that despite a claim that 80% felt that they were able to recognise a fraudulent message.

Facebook Apps – giving away identity

Colleague of mine drew my attention to the way that some Facebook Apps may not be bound by the same criteria as those scripted by Facebook. If a Facebook App requires you to leave areas of your Profile Checked to work – just ask yourself the question why? Is it really necessary to reveal that information to a third party? What are they going to do with it? Now the “smart ones” will have locked their profiles down really tight – but for others this may be just a “trawling” exercise with the “fancy app” just the honeytrap to garner the profile information.

So next time you click to accept a Facebook app ask yourself the question – do I really need to do this? Do I really want to share information about myself with loads of unknown and unconnected people? How wide do I really want my “circle of friends” to extend.

If you’ve also got annoyed by the request of a Facebook App to post on to “x” other friends before you have access to the App, just say “no thanks” – it’s not worth it. I got “caught” by a genealogy app – don’t make the same mistake! Golden rule of genealogy – don’t reveal details of living relatives. Indicating to someone else who you’re related to on Facebook breaks that golden rule.