Think before you click on links appearing on mobile devices on online buying of Christmas and New Year gifts as social networks and malicious mobile apps, among others, are the most common ways of attack by cyber criminals, says security software maker McAfee.
"Scammers use channels like Facebook and Twitter just like email and websites to scam consumers during the holidays," said the '2012 Holiday Shopping Study', conducted online among over 1,100 Indian adults.
"Be careful when clicking or liking posts, while taking advantage of contests, ads and special deals that one gets from "friends" that advertise the hottest Holiday gifts (such as the new iPad Mini), exclusive discounts at local stores and holiday-related jobs postings," it added. The most common ways of attack by cyber criminals is through social networks, malicious mobile apps, gift scams, fake charities and bogus gift cards, it said.
Three out of four (71 per cent) of those surveyed said they planned for using mobile devices. Even while they were aware of risks, they were willing to give away their personal information if they can get something they value in return, it said.
"Using multiple devices provides the bad guys with more ways to access your valuable 'Digital Assets' such as personal information and files, especially if the devices are under-protected," McAfee Labs Director Paula Greve said.
Among those Indians planning to use smartphones and/or tablets to purchase gifts this holiday season, almost 72 per cent said they were specifically planning to use apps for shopping and/or banking during the holiday season.
"As such, mobile devices have proven irresistible to cybercriminals, and now they are targeting mobile users through malicious applications...Indians are more likely to be a victim of a cyber scam. More than 23 per cent of polled Indians have been victims and almost 25 per cent of the polled Indians know someone who has been a victim," McAfee said in the study.
Though Indian respondents said they were concerned about personal information being stolen while using a mobile app on the smart phone or tablet, the highest compared to other countries (67 per cent), 95 per cent said they are willing to provide some level of personal information in order to receive an offer that is of value to them. India also scored highest on the ranking of sharing credit card details in order to receive such offers.
McAfee also cautioned against booking flights or hotel rooms for the holidays, saying that scammers are looking to hook people with beautiful pictures and rock-bottom prices, it added.
Spam mails offering cheap Rolex watches, the latest iPad Mini or pharmaceuticals, advertised as the "perfect gift" for that special someone, are also used to lure people to click on malicious links.
"As smartphone users we are apps crazy, downloading over 25 billion apps for Android devices alone! But as the popularity of applications has grown, so have the chances that you could download a malicious application designed to steal your information or even send out premium-rate text messages without your knowledge," McAfee said.
One of the biggest scams of every holiday season is fake charities that cyber criminals hope to cash in on by sending spam emails advertising fake charities.
Internet surfers also need to be careful while opening e-Cards that may contain spyware or viruses that download onto the user's computer once they click on the link to view the greeting.
"One of the best ways for consumers to protect themselves is to learn about the criminals' tricks, so they can avoid them. Beyond that they should have the latest updates of the applications on their devices in order to enjoy a safe online buying or other experience," Greve said
"Scammers use channels like Facebook and Twitter just like email and websites to scam consumers during the holidays," said the '2012 Holiday Shopping Study', conducted online among over 1,100 Indian adults.
"Be careful when clicking or liking posts, while taking advantage of contests, ads and special deals that one gets from "friends" that advertise the hottest Holiday gifts (such as the new iPad Mini), exclusive discounts at local stores and holiday-related jobs postings," it added. The most common ways of attack by cyber criminals is through social networks, malicious mobile apps, gift scams, fake charities and bogus gift cards, it said.
Three out of four (71 per cent) of those surveyed said they planned for using mobile devices. Even while they were aware of risks, they were willing to give away their personal information if they can get something they value in return, it said.
"Using multiple devices provides the bad guys with more ways to access your valuable 'Digital Assets' such as personal information and files, especially if the devices are under-protected," McAfee Labs Director Paula Greve said.
Among those Indians planning to use smartphones and/or tablets to purchase gifts this holiday season, almost 72 per cent said they were specifically planning to use apps for shopping and/or banking during the holiday season.
"As such, mobile devices have proven irresistible to cybercriminals, and now they are targeting mobile users through malicious applications...Indians are more likely to be a victim of a cyber scam. More than 23 per cent of polled Indians have been victims and almost 25 per cent of the polled Indians know someone who has been a victim," McAfee said in the study.
Though Indian respondents said they were concerned about personal information being stolen while using a mobile app on the smart phone or tablet, the highest compared to other countries (67 per cent), 95 per cent said they are willing to provide some level of personal information in order to receive an offer that is of value to them. India also scored highest on the ranking of sharing credit card details in order to receive such offers.
McAfee also cautioned against booking flights or hotel rooms for the holidays, saying that scammers are looking to hook people with beautiful pictures and rock-bottom prices, it added.
Spam mails offering cheap Rolex watches, the latest iPad Mini or pharmaceuticals, advertised as the "perfect gift" for that special someone, are also used to lure people to click on malicious links.
"As smartphone users we are apps crazy, downloading over 25 billion apps for Android devices alone! But as the popularity of applications has grown, so have the chances that you could download a malicious application designed to steal your information or even send out premium-rate text messages without your knowledge," McAfee said.
One of the biggest scams of every holiday season is fake charities that cyber criminals hope to cash in on by sending spam emails advertising fake charities.
Internet surfers also need to be careful while opening e-Cards that may contain spyware or viruses that download onto the user's computer once they click on the link to view the greeting.
"One of the best ways for consumers to protect themselves is to learn about the criminals' tricks, so they can avoid them. Beyond that they should have the latest updates of the applications on their devices in order to enjoy a safe online buying or other experience," Greve said
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