Robert Siciliano, McAfee's identity-theft expert, answers viewer questions about computer viruses, spyware like Viewfinder, and Android malware. He covers how to protect online banking and personal data from cyber threats.
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Have you or anyone in your family ever been a victim of any kind of cybercrime? The numbers show more and more of us have had our credit card accounts hacked or an email virus has infected our computers. Remember just last week a nasty virus attacked some users on Facebook. We want to make sure you know what to do if you become a victim. And coming up in just a few minutes, at 10:30 as a matter of fact, a special on cybersecurity. An expert will be here to answer your questions. Ask anything you want. Leave your question on our Facebook wall, send us a tweet, We'll try to work it in. This is a Fox 25 News Special: Protecting Yourself Online. Facebook, Twitter, online banking— so much of our lives are online these days. While convenient, it also opens doors for people to take advantage. I'm Mark Ackerbloom.
Hi everybody, I'm Maria Stefanos. Tonight we're going to try to help you help yourself with this Fox 25 Special on cybersecurity. How to protect yourself. Let's begin though with some developing news when it comes to your security online. AT&T confirming it was the victim of an organized attempt at tapping into a number of their customers' accounts. The telecommunications giant quick to point out though that these hackers were unsuccessful. No accounts at this point were breached, but that is just one attempt that comes on the heels of a stream of high-profile cyber attacks against large government and private institutions.
Welcome back. We've been asking you to send in your cybersecurity questions, and joining us now live from our Beacon Hill studio to give you some answers is McAfee consultant identity theft expert Robert Siciliano. Always good to see you, Robert. Thanks for joining us.
Yep, thank you.
Let's take question 1. This is from Kelly Gaffney-Garenti. She asks on Facebook, recently it appears I got a virus and all of my email contacts were sent the virus. Exactly what kind of personal information of mine can be accessed by this hacker?
Well, that, uh, it all depends. Uh, expect everything was accessed. Uh, everything on your— in your digital life. Uh, all of your files, all of your emails. Uh, anytime you get a virus, you have to expect that some type of remote access technology a spyware that can remotely not only access your PC and see your usernames and passwords, but even possibly control that same machine. How about that? That being said, you know, all viruses today generally are designed to make the provider, whoever created it, money. And that's their goal, is to turn that data into cash.
So get rid of that virus as soon as possible, in other words. All right, last question here, and then we're going to have you back here in another segment as well. Teresa Prelardi, also logged in on Facebook, her question: It's a good one here. What about protecting our phones that are linked to our computers? Are they vulnerable too?
Your phones are computers. Your iPhone, your Android. Android— McAfee just did a study and the Android viruses are up almost 300% in the past year. So any Android-based phones are wide open to new viruses and they're a big target for the bad guy. All mobile phones need some type of an antivirus protection. So you also have to, of course, be careful about what links you click on what text messages you respond to. You can't just download rogue applications from third-party websites. You have to know that mobile phones are just like desktops and PCs.
Very good advice, Robert Siciliano. We got more viewer questions coming up in just a few minutes. Whether it takes up space in your pocket or the pocketbook, you probably keep it by your side 24/7, but that doesn't mean your mobile phone can't fall into the wrong hands. In fact, a new study released by McAfee shows a sharp spike in viruses on mobile devices, especially on phones that contain the Android operating system, as mentioned earlier by Robert Siciliano. McAfee says most scammers operate by appealing for a piece of personal user information, then going back and using the data to snag financial information. They say the best advice is to exercise some healthy skepticism Whenever someone asks for some info.
Joining us once again live from our Beacon Hill studio to answer your questions about cybersecurity, Robert Siciliano, McAfee consultant, ID theft expert. Rob, appreciate you joining us. Question 1, let's get right to it. Tony McPhee asks on Facebook, how do I protect myself if I realize that after I've logged into my online banking account that I have a virus? Does that mean that someone has my logon information? And if so, how do I prevent them from accessing my account and taking my money or stealing my identity?
Hmm.
Well, the first thing I would do is certainly contact your bank. If you, for whatever reason, suspect that your PC has been infected and your credentials have been compromised, then of course the first thing to do is contact that banking institution, even if it's on the weekend, and let them know that you feel that your data has been compromised in some way, shape, or form. And they'll put an alert on your account and make amends to protect that funds from leaving that account. You know, beyond that, you know, you want to be proactive, making sure that you install antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing programs so that stuff doesn't happen to you in the first place.
Right, all right, great, great answer. Let's get to Kelly Gaffney Guarente. She's asking, someone installed viewfinder program on my computer without my knowledge. Exactly how much information can that person actually view from his computer?
So Viewfinder, I'm not familiar with that. Maybe it's a remote access program or spyware program. Keep in mind that you want to be able to have full control of your PC at all times, meaning that you don't want anybody else to have administrative rights to be able to install anything on your machine at any given point in time. So meaning that anytime you let your friends or your family use your computer, you want to have it set up so they have their own little, you know, place to go. So you're the admin Nobody can install anything without your permission. Uh, you know, your PC is your digital life. It's access to your online banking, to your personal files, to online shopping, has your credit card information, sometimes Social Security numbers, and it's personal. You know, it's yours. And, uh, there's certain things you share with others and certain things you don't, and your PC is one of those things you probably shouldn't.
All right, Robert Siciliano, thank you so much for joining us on our Beacon Hill— at our Beacon Hill studio. Appreciate it, Robert. And that does it for this Fox 25 News special on cybersecurity.
