User guide

87
6.2.2 Hoaxes
A hoax is misinformation which is spread across the Internet. Hoaxes are usually sent via email or communication tools
like ICQ and Skype. The message itself is often a joke or Urban Legend.
Computer Virus hoaxes try to generate fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) in the recipients, bringing them to believe
that there is an “undetectable virus“ deleting files and retrieving passwords, or performing some other harmful activity
on their system.
Some hoaxes work by asking recipients to forward messages to their contacts, perpetuating the hoax. There are mobile
phone hoaxes, pleas for help, people offering to send you money from abroad, etc. It is often impossible to determine
the intent of the creator.
If you see a message prompting you to forward it to everyone you know, it may very well be a hoax. There are many
websites on the Internet that can verify if an email is legitimate. Before forwarding, perform an Internet search on any
message you suspect is a hoax.
6.2.3 Phishing
The term phishing defines a criminal activity which uses techniques of social engineering (manipulating users in order to
obtain confidential information). Its aim is to gain access to sensitive data such as bank account numbers, PIN codes,
etc.
Access is usually achieved by sending email masquerading as a trustworthy person or business (e.g., financial
institution, insurance company). The email can look very genuine, and will contain graphics and content which may
have originally come from the source it is impersonating. You will be asked to enter, under various pretenses (data
verification, financial operations), some of your personal data – bank account numbers or usernames and passwords.
All such data, if submitted, can easily be stolen and misused.
Banks, insurance companies, and other legitimate companies will never request usernames and passwords in an
unsolicited email.
6.2.4 Recognizing spam scams
Generally, there are a few indicators which can help you identify spam (unsolicited emails) in your mailbox. If a message
fulfills at least some of the following criteria, it is most likely a spam message.
Sender address does not belong to someone on your contact list.
You are offered a large sum of money, but you have to provide a small sum first.
You are asked to enter, under various pretenses (data verification, Financial operations), some of your personal data
– bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, etc.
It is written in a foreign language.
You are asked to buy a product you are not interested in. If you decide to purchase anyway, please verify that the
message sender is a reliable vendor (consult the original product manufacturer).
Some of the words are misspelled in an attempt to trick your spam filter. For example “vaigra” instead of “viagra”, etc.