“Dear beneficiary, $8,000,000 USD currently awaits in your account. You are a very lucky man. To claim your prize, send us your full name, bank account information, address, phone number, age, occupation, mother’s maiden name, and oh yeah, your social security number would be nice….”
We’ve all seen these spam emails from someone claiming to be a Nigerian prince or the Central Bank of Nigeria. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, hopefully most of you didn’t fall for it. For those that did, though, I hope the damage was minimal.
It’s because of con artists like these and other misfits on the Internet that we have computer security jobs, especially now. Hacking methods, viruses, worms, and malware are constantly evolving. At the same time, we are putting more personal and financial information on the Internet, and using more software with vulnerabilities. An educated computer user can usually hold their ground when it comes to their own personal PC, but if you mix them into a corporate environment with 10 times as many “non-computer-literate” people, then the amount of risk increases exponentially.
Having said that, it’s no surprise that computer security professionals have a great deal of responsibility on their plates. Not only must they account for users who may accidentally download something they shouldn’t, but they must also govern who gets into or out of the network, and where they’re allowed to go once they’re in.
Computer security isn’t just limited to the network team. In reality, every department within the IT field follows security practices to a degree. This includes network guys, system administrators, DB administrators, and even web and application developers.
As you can see, having knowledge of what to do in the event your system is compromised makes you a valuable individual in the IT industry. Securing everything that can be secured, from the IDF closets to software, also makes you a vital asset. The cool thing is that all that value translates to better salary, increased confidence, and a more promising career. Not to mention, as a computer security expert, you’ll see those pesky email spammers a mile away!
I definitely get these emails but I’ve had computers in my home since I was 12 and slowly over the years learned about all of the negative aspects of the internet. I think naive and elderly individuals are the ones most likely to fall for these traps.
Good article!
i have seen these emails too, and thank my luck i never fell for them, i even advised one of my friends, but unfortunately he did not listen to me……
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Appreciate this post! As a computer security nut I’d be keen on having you guest blog over on my blog as well! If you’re interested. Should be able to find me via the comluv link below.
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Hi, Daniel! Thanks for the feedback! I just got back from your blog, having read your article about ATM biometrics. It was very engaging. You certainly have an affinity for all things computer security-related. I’d definitely be down for guest blogging over at your site.
Jerry Bair´s recent blog post ..IT Certifications Save the Day
Thanks Jerry, you can email me for more details danielsnyder at shaw dot ca
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Twitter: socialphill
says:
Hi Jerry,
top article you have here! I must agree with you and thank you for this post! People do need reminding of these scammers!
Saying that though a lot of these spammy emails are actually getting much better and more sophisticated! Seem’s these scammers are actually spending some time in writing these of course I still get the not so sophistacated ones from time to time, but as a fellow blogger myself I like to think that I am somewhat savvy when it comes to catching out scammers but even i nearly fell foul to these.
Have you seen the new Facebook email that has been doing the rounds today. I just wanted to metion this as it goes under the guise that the users password has been reset and said user is asked to download a zip file that in reality contains a very nasty trojan.
thanks for sharing Jerry!
-Phillip Dews
Hi, Phillip! I appreciate the comment! I didn’t happen to get that email or even spot it in my Spam folders, but my girlfriend did get it. Luckily, her B.S. radar spotted it and she marked it as Spam right away.
It’s because of these emails that I don’t even click on links within emails that claim to be from my bank. If it’s questionable, I’ll just open a new window/tab and log into my account using SSL to validate that nothing fishy is going on..
I’m glad you’re staying ahead of the game. Hope that B.S. radar stays strong!
Jerry Bair´s recent blog post ..IT Certifications Save the Day
Hey thanks Jerry, Most of the times I used to get pesky mails, asking about my personal information. I too never fell into them. One of my friend got engaged into them. There are many friends around him suggested him not to do that, but he didn’t listen to them….. Finally he got the treatment. …..Anyways its nice post…..
Thanks & Regards
–Naresh
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