scammers

If you still have the skills for Windows 3.11, you may have been a candidate for a recent job ad in Germany. It appears the role, using the 30-year-old system, has been filled. The vacancy was advertised by national railway company Deutsche Bahn. ... The successful candidate would be assigned to Siemens, which is responsible for the rail tech division for the train control system. The role would involve keeping old systems operational so that train drivers could get real time information about equipment. The Register notes that although Windows 3.11's release in November 1993 is almost ... (view more)

Google has launched sets of two legal cases against scammers. The cases involve artificial intelligence tools and copyright claims, though could have wider implications for malicious online activity as a whole. The first case is against scammers who ... are trying to take advantage of interest in generative AI tools that can "create" text and images. They've made online posts and ads encouraging people to download Google's AI tool, Bard. The problem is that Bard isn't something you've downloaded, but rather an online service accessed through a website. What victims are actually downloading is ... (view more)

Artificial Intelligence tools aren't as useful for writing malware as it first seemed. However, they may be useful for phishing scams and other social engineering. Two recent security company reports covered by The Register explored how malware ... scammers are particularly interested in AI tools that generate material. The theory goes that such tools could write code designed to exploit vulnerabilities in software and websites. (Source: theregister.com ) It's not a completely outlandish theory as some users have found such tools can efficiently write code for a particular task. It can take ... (view more)

More than 60,000 Android apps contained a nasty piece of malware designed to steal banking information. The scam doesn't target the official Google Play store, but rather third-party sources. The rogue apps fall into two main categories. Some are ... designed to closely resemble real, popular apps. Others are promoted as "modded" versions of genuine apps that are supposedly identical but with an alteration that supposedly removes ads or a requirement to pay a subscription. In reality, the scammers have taken the genuine apps, copied them, and made one modification. Unfortunately that modification ... (view more)

Ransomware scammers are targeting smaller businesses, partly because larger firms are refusing to pay up. Attackers are also more likely to threaten to expose data than in the pass. The statistics come from security company Coveware, which sells ... ransomware response services. While precise figures should be taken with a pinch of salt, the company reports the average (mean) payout to ransomware scammers in the second quarter of 2022 was $228,125, up eight percent on the previous quarter. (Source: coveware.com ) However, it appears that's a case of a few major attacks distorting the average. The ... (view more)

Did you get caught up in a romance scam? Are blackmailers threatening to expose your pictures and videos through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or LinkedIn? If so, you've come to the right place. Got questions? I've got answers! Contact me here to ... receive a complimentary phone consultation. Ask up to 3 questions, up to 15 minutes FREE . I've been studying this scam extensively since 2019, have completed over 1,000+ cases, and I'm happy to share my knowledge and experience with you. Too shy for a call? Keep reading - there's LOTS of good advice below, including insight into this crime you'll ... (view more)

Scammers who don't want to write their own malware can now pay just $20 to start a campaign of attacks. They can then customize their "bait" with Windows installations and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) among the ways to target users. The malware is ... available on dark web sites. These are sites that are part of the world wide web, but set up in a way that means they aren't indexed by search engines. That makes them suitable for people who don't want their activities easily traced. A piece of malware called BitRAT costs just $20 for lifetime access. The name derives from "remote ... (view more)

Nearly three in every four dollars paid to ransomware scammers goes to Russian-affiliated groups according to new research. The authors also accuse Russia of turning a blind eye to large-scale money laundering. The figures come from Chainalysis, ... which tracks crime involving cryptocurrencies. These are "virtual" currencies such as Bitcoin where all transactions are tracked on a public "ledger". The way cryptocurrencies work means its relatively straightforward to track the amount of money a particular user has spent or received. However, it's often difficult to prove who a particular user is. ... (view more)

Google has cracked down on a key method that scammers used to distribute Android malware through the Play app store. But like a game of whack-a-mole, the scammers are adjusting their tactics for greater success. The Google change is to the way it ... handles accessibility tools on Android devices. These include screen-readers, voice input systems and other modifications for users to interact with the device. Such tools often need access to key components such as the camera, microphone or speakers, access that can be abused by malware. Google relaxes the security and permissions system on such ... (view more)

Scammers are using bogus antivirus renewal demands as their latest money-grabbing tactics. The attacks appear to target both people's money and their account details. The warning came from consumer group "Which" after it spotted two different fake ... emails. One supposedly comes from McAfee and the other from Norton Antivirus, both claiming a subscription is about to end. (Source: which.co.uk ) It's another case of playing the numbers game: while many people will either not use these products or will spot the scam, the popularity means that simply spraying out emails will eventually ... (view more)