[SecurityRatty] tag: enter

Spam Victims Wont Go to Rehab, No No No

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:10:51 +0000

I was reading the Symantec State of Spam report for August and I thought this was funny and tragic– email spam targeting alcoholics and other users, and advertising rehab services. Users click the link allegedly for a rehab program, enter their personal information — and instead of getting help, they get scammed.

The report says:

July 2008 saw the emergence of rehab spam. Subject lines have included

- Get help today with Drug Rehab Info
- Overcome Alcoholism today
Spammers are constantly trying new tactics to try and coerce recipients into opening a
spam message so that they can obtain personal information from end users. In this particu-
lar example, they are trying to target individuals who are not in good health, in the hopes
that they will act on this spam message and give away their personal details.

Read the full August State of Spam report here.

Again, On Laptops and US Borders

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

"According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers can confiscate and detain travelers' laptops at the U.S. border without suspicion of wrongdoing. Laptops can be taken to an off-site location for an undisclosed period of time, during which officials may examine the computer's contents and share copies of files with other agencies. This policy applies to any other form of digital or analog storage device, including iPods, cell phones, flash drives, hard drives, and tapes." (source)

"The key to the above paragraph, of course, is "without suspicion of wrongdoing." Indeed, in the policy (PDF), DHS says (emphasis mine), "In the course of a border search, and absent individualized suspicion, officers can review and analyze the information transported by any individual attempting to enter, reenter, depart, pass through, or reside in the United States."" (source)

Fun question that was brought by someone on a security mailing list: if your employer-owned laptop is "captured" by DHS, TSA or Customs AND it has regulated information on it (CCs, SSNs, PHUI, etc), do you have to report it as "data loss"? The chances of that info being lost are definitely much, much higher now AND the control over such data is clearly not in your hands anymore... Niiiiice.

Automated Spim on Microblogging Site Via MSN Messenger

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:12:09 +0000

There's been a fair amount of Twitter coverage recently, but it's worth noting that other countries have their own versions of Twittering and some of them have seem to be a little easier to use in conjunction with Instant Messaging, whereas Twitter still seems to have a need for third party services, add-ins and other tools to get the job done if the service used is something other than Google Talk, Livejournal Chat or Jabber (if it's now more straightforward for other clients too, please let me know!)

Either way, the below illustrates why adding Instant Messaging features to services such as Twitter can cause problems in the long run and needs to be considered carefully.

We were alerted to the fact that a large amount of Spam seemed to be coming out of China in the last day or two (indeed, one contact mentioned to me that this particular message had been sent to their Honeypot around 29,000+ times, which is a lot of spamming for one URL however you look at it). The spam in question seemed to have been sent via a Spambot, and the only mentions of this URL so far in search engines seems to be related to China - shall we take a look?

The URL in question (with part of it redacted) is

http: //5834******/ ;)

You'll notice the spam is short, snappy and also includes a little smiley-face thing at the end. In fact, it looks a little bit like the kind of link people send to their contacts on Twitter, doesn't it?

Well, let's see - a quick search and we find this:

Click to Enlarge

A page from Fanfou.com, which I believe is a Chinese site "inspired" by Twitter with much of the same features and functionality. In fact, it has one feature working straight off the bat that Twitter users previously had to rely on plugins for - the ability to send messages to their page via MSN Messenger updates.

http: //5834****** doesn't actually resolve anywhere - however, a quick Ping to that address and we have an IP:

Click to Enlarge

Type the IP address into the browser, and via some geolocational technology, you'll see a region specific version of the following dating website:

Click to Enlarge

Go back to the page on Fanfou.com, scroll down and select any of the clickable links and surprise - the same page appears. This particular account on Fanfou has something like 30+ pages devoted to endless Spim links via MSN. They link to placeholder pages, sites that look as though they've been suspended and / or deleted with no way to determine what content was there previously - all interspersed with "Twitter" style messages throughout such as this:

Again, note everything is coming via MSN. By this point, you're probably wondering exactly how they allow you to send messages to their Twitter-style pages. Well, the solution is quite clever - check out the IM page. You enter your MSN address, and when you login to your MSN account, you'll suddenly find you have a new IM buddy who wants to be a contact:

Add it, and whenever you want to put a message on your page, send it an instant message and, lo and behold, your Tweet-style message has appeared on your page:

Click to Enlarge

In conclusion, the steps here appear to be

1) Create a Spambot that infects users via MSN Messenger
2) Tailor the messages it sends to be short and sweet, just like a Twitter-style message
3) Set up an account on a service such as Fanfou.com that makes it easy to send messages to your page via MSN Messenger (or other IM services affected by your bot)
4) Infect the PC running your MSN Messenger account then watch as it spams the userpage with whatever messages you want it to send.

Of course, the links can be anything from dating sites and ringtone adverts to infection files and exploits - all made so much more easier (and far less time consuming than manually typing in URLs to your userpage) by the functionality built into the site you happen to be using. It's also worth noting that the accounts sending the Spim don't have to be set up by the spammer - they could be compromised accounts that had been hijacked when clicking a rogue IM link, which is a great way of filling out the spamming ranks very quickly.

This is definitely something Twitter - and any other site out there involved in microblogging - need to keep an eye out for, and consider carefully when thinking of adding integration with popular Instant Messaging clients.

We detect the file sending the weblinks via MSN as Foubot.

Research and Writeup: Christopher Boyd, Director of Malware Research
Additional Research: Chris Mannon, Senior Threat Researcher

Eight Steps to Responsible Surfing

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:30:41 +0000

Web threats and attacks will continue to evolve, but surfers can protect themselves against the majority of malicious code by following eight different steps. To provide the greatest degree of security, surfers cannot rely entirely on technology, and should also address the behavioral issues that are most likely to create risky situations.

Changing Behavior

The safest way to deal with a danger is avoidance. By surfing safely and adapting offline sensibilities online, surfers can greatly reduce their danger of exposure to malware.

1. Educate yourself.
At least every 6 to 12 months, surfers should browse the educational information provided by their operating system and security vendors and subscribe to any security-related newsletters they might offer. According to David Perry, familiarity with the latest threats, dangers, and recommended safety tips will allow surfers to make safe choices. “Until you know what’s out there, you’re just flying blind. Without an education, you’re wide open”.
2. Avoid suspect sites.
While criminals can infect even mainstream Web sites, sites such as gambling sites, adult Internet sites, and illegal file-sharing sites are far more likely to carry malicious code. Web sites that offer “something for nothing” frequently recoup their losses by infecting visitors’ PCs.
3. Lose Your Comfort Zone.

Web surfers should migrate their offline precautions to their online experience. By beginning with an attitude of healthy skepticism and only doing business with trusted Web sites, surfers can bypass a good deal of risk.

Recommended Technology

Despite the best precautions, every user will encounter Web-based malware. While no technology can guarantee protection against all attacks, a combination of preventive technologies provides the most comprehensive protection possible.

4. Use an updated virus scanning suite.
The most important component of any threat mitigation system is a virus scanning suite. In addition to detecting and removing known viruses and malware, modern virus scanning suites provide additional protections against new attacks by disabling their known protocols. For example, Trend Micro™ Internet Security encrypts keyboard traffic, protecting personal data from keyboard logging programs that might go unnoticed. Users should update their scanner and virus definitions as frequently as possible to ensure the best possible coverage.
5. Upgrade your OS and browser.
In addition to offering more features, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer version 7 and the latest Mozilla Firefox are both substantially more secure than previous-generation browsers. Users of older browsers should upgrade immediately to take advantage of increased security. Similarly, Windows Vista and Mac OS X are more secure than their predecessors, and users of older operating systems should consider upgrading, as well.
6. Disable scripting and “widgets.”
Many Web-based attacks use various scripting languages to run infectious programs in a browser or use downloadable “widgets” to execute infections locally. By disabling scripting and avoiding downloadable widgets wherever possible, surfers disable these common attack vectors.
7. Rate your Web pages.
Some available services rate the risk of Web pages in search results, allowing surfers to avoid unwanted content and hidden threats before viewing the pages. Rating applications (e.g., Trend Micro TrendProtect™) consume few system resources and run unobtrusively, so they are suitable for any Web-enabled personal computer.
8. Ask your provider.
Commerce companies, banks, and credit card associations are all interested in computer security, and many offer additional features. For example, Visa’s Verified By Visa program requires cardholders to enter a second password to identify themselves during a transaction, while businesses in Poland require cell-phone confirmation of credit card purchases. While nothing will be 100 percent effective, any additional security measure provided by a trusted source will increase protection, and surfers should adopt as many as possible.

This article provided for your reading pleasure by Trend Micro.

The Magical ATM Card and SMS Message in Thailand

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:30:52 +0000

It was not too long ago that I penned Keyloggers: Why Banks Need Two-Factor Authentication. In that post, I briefly mentioned how a number of banks in Thailand use inexpensive SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) with one-time password (OTP) to authenticate transactions.

One of my favorite banks in Thailand is K-Bank. With K-Bank I can simply walk up to an ATM machine and pay a mobile phone bill, purchase mutual funds, buy insurance, or transact an ever-growing list of services payable at the modern and sleek K-Bank ATM.

For example, tomorrow I fly to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand and found K-Bank’s service amazingly better than in the US. For example, I booked my flight as usual (over the phone, but could have used the Internet) and told the reservation agent I was going to pay by ATM. He simply gave me a PayCode and told me I had three hours to go to the ATM and enter the PayCode to perfect my reservation. I also got the PayCode via SMS. This gave me the time I needed to make sure I had booked the perfect boutique hotel in Chiang Mai, the Fern Paradise.

Then, I went out into the beautiful Thai weather and completely my airplane reservation at the ATM machine; which also printed out a receipt with my flight details and reservation number.

It sometimes amazes me how much further advanced some services are in Thailand compared to the US. To me, it feels more secure not to use an on-line payment center or give out my credit card details over the phone. I can simply book a ticket, take a PayCode, and complete the transaction at a nice modern, shiny, K-Bank ATM machine.

Who knows, maybe soon I can select the perfect window seat at the ATM and the receipt will act as my boarding pass!

Easy Google Income

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:58:49 +0000

Here's an interesting piece of spam trying to cash in on the Google name that could wind up being quite costly for anyone willing to take a chance and see what it's all about. This was sent to one of my friends:

Click to Enlarge

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the office is based in the West Indies and to unsubscribe your email goes to Romania? At any rate, they don't seem to want my patronage - unfortunately, I'm not particularly interested in free iPods or a Nintendo Wii so a few clicks later and I'm where I should be:

Click to Enlarge

At the bottom of the page, it says "Google does not sponsor, endorse, and is no way affiliated with Easy Net Income or this promotion."

Well, they could have fooled me what with all the Google material they've splashed across the site. The quote in the box is interesting, too: "Riches range from a few hundred dollars a month to $50,000 or more a year".

Go hunting on USA Today though, and the quote doesn't have anything to do with something called "Easy Google Income" - it's to do with Adsense. Bits missing have been reinserted and bolded:

"Tales of AdSense riches range from a few hundred dollars a month to $50,000 or more a year, though high-dollar paydays are rare. They require a Web site with tons of traffic and the ability to put in 18-hour days working the system.

I think the missing parts are kind of important, don't you? Of course, the CD title clearly makes you think you're going to get some mysterious money magnet, but stops short of telling you whether it would be a program, ebook or magical leprechaun.

In fact, what happens is you apparently sign up for the CD at the cost of subscribing yourself to some kind of "free trial" - at the end of which, you have to pay $39.90 a month for access to training courses to "Internet Wealth University" (I swear I'm not making this up). There's also an "activation fee" charged immediately to the card you subscribe with, though I'm guessing you only enter your details once you've entered your name / address and moved onto the second page (which I'm not about to do, in case you were wondering).

Internet Wealth University must have an awful lot of poor students, going by the problems people are having unsubscribing.

"When you try to call the company, you get an automated answering system that tells you all representatives are busy and then puts you on hold-forever, or they disconnect you after 5 minutes!"

Indeed, there's quite a lot of people wondering what this is all about, including the inevitable concern over billing issues.

Our advice? Steer well clear. There is a lot of money up for grabs here, but it's all being netted by the people running these websites. Their customers don't appear to be so lucky...

Coding Spyware and Malware for Hire

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:52:14 +0000

What type of antivirus evasion do you want today? For the past several years, we have been witnessing the emerging customerization applied in malware and spyware for hire services. What used to be a situation where the malware authors would code and then start promoting a piece of malware including features that he thinks his potential customers would want by generalizing a cybercriminal's needs, is today's "listening to the customer" win-win situation that they've reached already.

The whole maturity from a product concept to customerization is in fact so prevalent these days, that malware authors wanting to preserve their intellectual property are forbidding their customers from reverse engineering their malware modules, presumably fearing that remotely exploitable flaws like this one in one of the most popular Ebanker malwares for the last two yers Zeus, could be discovered due to the malware author's insecure coding practices. Moreover, limiting the distribution of a single license they are given to more than three people will result in the malware author ignoring any future business relationships with the party that ruined the exclusiveness of the malware, thereby leaking it to the public, something that's been happening and will continue happening with web malware exploitation kits.

What would be the price of a custom malware module coded on demand? How much does it cost to have a built in email harvester that would sniff all the incoming and outgoing email addresses from the infected host to later on include them in upcoming spam and malware campaigns? Would the malware author also provide a managed hosting service for the command and control and the actual binaries on a revenue sharing

Here's an automatically translated, and fairly easy to understand random proposition for coding spyware and malware for hire, aiming to answer many of these questions, clearly demonstrating that today's malware is coded in exactly the same way the customer wants it to :

"As you can see in the history of its development turned directly into the combine, while almost no raspuh in weight, full-size pack аж 18 kb and minialno 5 kb, for all nampomnyu again, all descriptions below can be done as otdelnym bot, and any combination of cross except for a few restrictions. This product is targeted at mass-user and will not be all prodavatsya row. So, you can choose from:

Actually loader - is able to load a file from adminki, by country and other characteristics, such as the number of animals on board with a specific bot, a country group of countries, the availability of certain authors or Fire, sredenemu time online, etc. etc.. You can adjust the speed of shipping limits for each file, can load 1 as well as how files simultaneously
300 €

FTP and not only Graber
Analyzes user traffic and collects from the ftp acclamation, that is ftp acclamation would you regardless of how the customer uses ftp user, thus can be obtained most valuable ftp aka (even those to which the password is not saved), you can also grab other in a way not only acclamation acclamation and other tasty things more)
150 €

Assembler spam bases
Analyzes user traffic and collects from all email, snifit http pop3 smtp protocols, keeps records unikallnosti locally on each boat to reduce the burden on the server as well as globally on a server has 2 mode of operation - ie passive with only collects user to please and active - the very beginning to download the entire inet) in search of soap
220 €

Socks 4 / 5
Normal soks with competently implemented multithreading, is activated only if the user real Ip, otherwise not. And also optional, depending on the connection type and speed ineta.
70 €

Indicates
The primitive method, contamination fleshek avtoranom gives 2-3% increase in the first week and up to 7% in the next, a pleasant trifle)
35 €

Scripts
Loader supports internal scripting language - jscript, to carry out arbitrary actions on the victim machine, whether recording data in the register, setting authentic hon-Pago, opening URL in your browser (it was done so to please with 90% punching)), apload arbitrary files on a server, even theoretically possible to form and grabing inzhekty in IE) has only to write the script zaebetes, vobschem lyuboye actions soul who wish)
70 € basic functionality

Assembler passwords
Collects data such as passwords pstorage IE, MSN, etc., will be added at the request of other sources of passwords
70 €

Mini-AV
When installing loadera wheelbarrows to remove BHO shaped three, zevso-shaped, the majority of shit from all avtoranov, render most keylogerov until all) forward proposals to improve
70 €

File-default
In exe loadera program URL (in adminke) to the file which once progruzit 1 and run at first start loadera on wheelbarrows, while simultaneously helping progruzke Trojan for example, in its entire botnet that does not paired with challenges in adminke, the module operates in 20 seconds after the mini - av which excludes the removal of your Trojan bot, after progruza this exe bot continues to normal activities.
35 €

Form Graber
While in beta version, robbed IE. Sends logs in adminku, folding country. Logs are like logs agent. It consists of:

Graber certificats
On the idea is part formgrabera but could work and of itself, actually there is nothing to describe)

Injections
Literacy sold inzhekty, did not begin work after full progruza pages (as in bolshistve three) and immediately supported injection yavaskript code, which allows avtozalivy and DC inzhekty for data collection. For example not to yuzat acclamation at all is not yet introduce the necessary number of Britain, after which inzhekt ceases to operate. Вобщем mdelat can be anything and in any form) rather than the meager request field pin) And also inzhektov subspecies - a substitute for the issuance of search enginee.

Graber balances
Makes loot aka balances at the entrance to the user acclamation, detail added to the logs.

Screen
Universal method to grab information from absolutely any species and varieties klaiviatur screens, in particular html, flash, in one picture, with a drop-down fields after choosing your encrypted, as well as information such as "enter 3 yu secret letter word" etc. as well as any information which is visible a user but not seen in the logs. Screen settings of adminki, set URL where do screen as well as the type of screen: for virtual keyboard (done several small images of areas around the clique) or to "enter 3 yu secret letter words" (makes 1 full shot). With the withdrawal screen recorded in the log entry with the name of the file to the screen this position.

Antiabuznost for botneta
Feachem adminki, keep botnet enables fast, normal, bezglyuchnyh NEabuzoustoychivyh hosting, with features that you forget what abuzy, nohistory week saporta "abuzoustoychivogo" hosting inaccessibility host to half ineta etc., etc., also with the help of the supplement will be able to keep huge botnety (over SL) at 1 dedike with 512 Lake) and well on the price of hosting a savings, not $ 500 a month and 150. It may use this feature to stroronnim development, Trojans, bots, etc., actually is a separate product. And incidentally, if you do not understand the theory that nenado ask "and how does it work?" imagine that it works and point and neubivaemo in pritsnipe.
600 € +

All prices are in euros, the calculation is made at the rate of CB on the day of purchase. ps I will not disappear as most authors after months of sales, I DONT how to please you get to the assembly ftp, I DONT how many soap collects soap-graber, I DONT what otstuk from loadera, I DONT soksov how many will be from 1 to downloads, and how best To work load a file is not dead quickly, if you are confused my ignorance - that my loader so you do not need more tries)

Rules / Licence
-- Customer has no right to transfer any of his three 3 persons except options for harmonizing with me
-- Customer does not have the right to make any decompile, research, malicious modification of any three parts
-- Customer has no right where either rasprostanyat information about three and a public discussion with the exception of three entries.
-- For violating the rules - without any license denial manibekov and further conversations"

This malware coder seems to be participating in an affiliate program with a malicious ISP that is offering hosting services for the entire campaign, not just the malware binaries, so you have a rather good example that incentives and revenue-sharing models result in value-added services, a all-in-one shop for a customer to take advantage of without bothering to approach a third-party.

Cybercrime is getting even more easier to outsource these days, and with the malicious parties improving their communication and incentives model, the resulting transparency in the underground market

Related posts:
The Underground Economy's Supply of Goods and Services
The Dynamics of the Malware Industry - Proprietary Malware Tools
Using Market Forces to Disrupt Botnets
Multiple Firewalls Bypassing Verification on Demand
Managed Spamming Appliances - The Future of Spam
Localizing Cybercrime - Cultural Diversity on Demand
E-crime and Socioeconomic Factors
Russia's FSB vs Cybercrime
Malware as a Web Service
Localizing Open Source Malware
Quality and Assurance in Malware Attacks
Benchmarking and Optimising Malware

On Measuring a Markets Maturity

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:10:01 +0000

Professor David Luckham posts a good question in Measuring a Market’s Maturity. Here is a slightly revised reprint of our reply:

A few folks have tried to tie “maturity” to “if the code is robust” or “if the product has certain product features.” The way we have addressed this emerging controversy over at The CEP blog is to center the discussion around the Gartner Hype Cycle, which is a pretty good model for representing the maturity, adoption and business application of specific technologies.

On CEP Maturity and the Gartner Hype Cycle

Since many folks work very closely with Gartner, I expect they are keenly aware of Gartner’s view on technology adoption maturity models and their definitions. Just for our readers who might not be as familar, I quote Gartner’s definitions below to be complete from here:

A hype cycle is a graphic representation of the maturity, adoption and business application of specific technologies. The term was coined by Gartner[citation needed], an analyst/research house, based in the United States, that provides opinions, advice and data on the global information technology industry.

Since 1995, Gartner has used hype cycles to characterize the over-enthusiasm or “hype” and subsequent disappointment that typically happens with the introduction of new technologies. Hype cycles also show how and when technologies move beyond the hype, offer practical benefits and become widely accepted. According to Gartner, hype cycles aim to separate the hype from the reality, and enable CIOs and CEOs to decide whether or not a particular technology is ready for adoption. A longer-term historical perspective on such cycles can be found in the research of the economist Carlota Perez.

A hype cycle in Gartner’s interpretation comprises 5 steps:

“Technology Trigger” — The first phase of a hype cycle is the “technology trigger” or breakthrough, product launch or other event that generates significant press and interest.

“Peak of Inflated Expectations” — In the next phase, a frenzy of publicity typically generates over-enthusiasm and unrealistic expectations. There may be some successful applications of a technology, but there are typically more failures.

“Trough of Disillusionment” — Technologies enter the “trough of disillusionment” because they fail to meet expectations and quickly become unfashionable. Consequently, the press usually abandons the topic and the technology.

“Slope of Enlightenment” — Although the press may have stopped covering the technology, some businesses continue through the “slope of enlightenment” and experiment to understand the benefits and practical application of the technology.

“Plateau of Productivity” — A technology reaches the “plateau of productivity” as the benefits of it become widely demonstrated and accepted. The technology becomes increasingly stable and evolves in second and third generations. The final height of the plateau varies according to whether the technology is broadly applicable or benefits only a niche market.

The term is now used more broadly in the marketing of new technologies.

We used the Gartner Hype Cycle in Two-Thirds of Our Readers Say CEP is Still Immature as a basis for having interested readers vote, and in a unscientific straw poll, the readers indicated that, in their view, CEP is still immature.

At the CEP Blog we ground our discussions and terminology on maturity in Gartner’s models on maturity, and we ground our discussions on event processing in the art-and-science of a long standing domain in event processing - multisensor data fusion (MSDF).

iPhone 2.0 Software Adds 802.1X for Enterprises

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:51:30 +0000

Apple adds secure enterprise logins for iPhone: The iPhone 2.0 software, available through a download link for existing 2G iPhones today, adds promised support for the 802.1X port-based authentication required in any company that's even remotely serious about its network security. 802.1X isolates connecting to an access point from gaining access to the network to which the access point is connected. A special client, known as a supplicant, must provide the right credentials for a device to be approved for access. Cryptography binds the process. (Instructions for manually installing the software are over at Wired. The update will likely be pushed out via iTunes to current owners tomorrow, and is included on the iPhone 3G, which goes on sale starting today over the international dateline and tomorrow in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere.)

Apple splits its 802.1X support into two pieces. There's basic support built into the iPhone 2.0 software, found in the Settings application's Wi-Fi section. Click Other. Click the None label next to Security, and the WPA Enterprise and WPA2Enterprise options appear. Select either, and the main login screen lets you enter the network's name (SSID), a user name, and a password. This basic method is limited to WPA Enterprise and WPA2 Enterprise, the two most common (and most secure) forms of 802.1X.

Most enterprises will want much more control over this process, and Apple provides the iPhone Configuration Utility, currently available in its most complete form only as a Mac OS X application, and in more limited forms as Web 2.0 applications for Windows and Mac OS X.

The utility serves two purposes: creating configuration profiles, including for multiple Wi-Fi networks and VPN connections; and allowing iPhones in an enterprise to run internally developed iPhone software. The Wi-Fi profiles allow you to create WEP or WPA/WPA2 802.1X configurations, and include support for choosing allowed EAP messaging types, configuring authentication elements associated with a given EAP type, and adding server certificates and names for better authentication control.

Once created, these profiles can be distributed throughout a company via email or as a direct download to the iPhone via an intranet Web server. Apple chose not to encrypt them, which means that certain information that's not secured--such as the shared secret for certain VPN connections--could be disclosed to someone who had access to the profile or could download it off the local network.

Phishing emails and training users

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:24:45 +0000

One of the frequently proposed ideas for reducing bank fraud is to train customers to identify and ignore phishing emails. The problem with this approach is that the criminals sending such emails quickly adapt to circumvent the advice given to customers, as can be seen in this quiz.

Even worse is that the emails sent by banks often resemble phishing attempts, and sometimes directly violate the advice given to customers. With this “do as I say, not as I do” approach, it is no surprise that customers regularly fall for the scams. In fact, sometimes a legitimate email look so fake that the bank's own security staff think it's a phish.

And it's not just banks which are slipping up. I received an email from Paypal, asking users to “click here and enter your password” despite the warning on the same page: “PayPal will never ask you to enter your password in an email”. What can customers be reasonably expected to do, given this type of training? I simply closed my account.

Email is a valuable sales channel for banks, and marketing teams evidently have not being willing to sacrifice it, despite the (justified) concerns of the security departments. This fact, coupled with the weak authentication schemes currently deployed, makes life for fraudsters easy. Paypal have tried one alternative approach – a two-factor token – but these are still vulnerable to attack. Strong security solutions, accepted both by customers and marketing, are needed to mitigate the large damages from fraud we see today.