CU phishing attempts draw attention of paper

SAN FRANCISCO (6/7/05)--Smaller financial institutions such as credit unions are being targeted by Internet scam artists, and The San Francisco Chronicle is taking notice.

The June 6 edition addressed how credit unions and smaller banks have become victims of phishing scams more often in the past few months.

Twenty-one credit unions were targeted in May, up from three victims in February, according to Websense, a San Diego company.

The Chronicle also quoted Kevin Knope, director of web services, about the phishing attacks that have plagued Credit Union National Association.

It's the smaller institutions that may not have the resources to effectively fight back that are now targeted.

That's why credit unions need to "harden" their computer operating systems to protect them from everything from phishers to malicious software that compromises security by logging keystrokes.

Among the "malware" currently making the rounds is a worm--Eveveg.d--that keeps track of information such passwords, Social Security numbers and other account information that a computer user enters at a website, said Jason Allred, Credit Union Resources' Financial and Technology Resources (LoneStar Leaguer June 3).

Operating systems should be continually updated to keep pace with security patches, all computers should be protected with some sort of antivirus software and firewall protection at the network level should be maintained at the highest level, Allred added.

"The keys to ensuring overall success of a credit union technology protection strategy is to use layered defenses, maintain those defenses on a regular cycle and educate all credit union computer users in the realm of safe computer use and aid in their understanding these protection strategies," he said.

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Resource Links
Statement stuffer: ID Theft: How to Prevent It and How to Get Over It
Resources to fight phishing fraud


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