The question I get asked the most might seem like a simple question, but it is not. This question usually leads to an answer that gets long winded and sometimes a bit technical. I am going to try and reduce the technical aspect as much as possible. So, how are computers infected? The most common methods are specifically two kinds, software flaws and social engineering.
‘Sextortionist’ Sentenced to Prison
Jot down one more for the FBI. If you are a teen-ager or a parent, read this to learn how easy it is to destroy lives and why you shouldn’t flirt with this danger by clicking online to get free music or videos. Chances are you are letting danger in your door- and bedroom. Here’s the transcript of the official FBI Press Release, Sept. 2011:
ORANGE COUNTY MAN WHO ADMITTED HACKING INTO PERSONAL COMPUTERS SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ‘SEXTORTION’ OF WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Ana man who hacked into dozens of computers to obtain personal data – and in some cases demanded sexually explicit videos from female victims in exchange for not distributing other
images – was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison.
Luis Mijangos, 32, received the six-year prison term from United States District Judge George H. King, who said the defendant engaged in “psychological warfare” and “cyberterrorism.” Mijangos pleaded guilty in March 2011 to computer hacking and wiretapping. When he pleaded guilty, Mijangos specifically admitted that in late 2009 he used malicious software to hack into a teenage girl’s computer, which gave him control over the
victim’s webcam and allowed him to surreptitiously obtain naked photos of her. Read More
victim’s webcam and allowed him to surreptitiously obtain naked photos of her. Read More
Reporting Computer Hacking, Fraud and Internet Crime
Millennium Group has had to report crime on several occasions. It is wise to know what you should do if and when cybercrime hits you. Here is the overview from the Justice Department’s Cybercrime website:
The primary federal law enforcement agencies that investigate domestic crime on the Internet include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Secret Service, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) , the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) . Each of these agencies has offices conveniently located in every state to which crimes may be reported. Contact information regarding these local offices may be found in local telephone directories. In general, federal crime may be reported to the local office of an appropriate law enforcement agency by a telephone call and by requesting the “Duty Complaint Agent.”
Each law enforcement agency also has a headquarters (HQ) in Washington, D.C., which has agents who specialize in particular areas. For example, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service both have headquarters-based
specialists in computer intrusion (i.e., computer hacker) cases. To determine some of the federal investigative law enforcement agencies that may be appropriate for reporting certain kinds of
crime, please refer to the following:
Type of Crime Appropriate federal investigative law enforcement agencies
Computer intrusion (i.e. hacking) – FBI local office, U.S.
Secret Service, Internet Crime Complaint Center
Password trafficking- FBI local office, U.S. Secret Service,
Internet Crime Complaint Center
Counterfeiting of currency – U.S. Secret Service
Child Pornography or Exploitation- FBI local office; if
imported, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internet Crime Complaint
Center
Child Exploitation and Internet Fraud matters that have a
mail nexus – U.S. Postal Inspection Service,
Internet Crime Complaint Center, Internet fraud and SPAM FBI
local office, U.S. Secret Service (Financial Crimes Division). Federal Trade
Commission (online complaint) If securities fraud or investment-related SPAM
e-mails, Securities and Exchange Commission (online complaint), The Internet
Crime Complaint Center
Internet harassment -FBI local office
Internet bomb threats – FBI local office, ATF local office
Trafficking in explosive or incendiary devices or firearms
over the Internet – FBI local office, ATF local office
Posted in Newsletter Tagged child pornogrpahy, FBI, hacking, online crime, online fraud, where to report cybercrime Leave a comment