Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Screen Has Eyes
Have you ever tried ordering things online? How about accessing your bank account? Or paying your bills?
To get some perspective, it is said that about 25 million people have tried selling things online. Now, multiply this figure with potential buyers given the global internet market available today, and sure enough, the numbers are bound to increase exponentially.
For those who have NOT tried it, much of the reason lie in their faith (or lack of it) in the security measures provided for by all these various institutions peddling their wares or offering their services through the internet. How safe are these online transactions? What are the steps that have been undertaken to make them secure?
After this article, you might probably say "who's to blame them?"
A couple of minutes ago, I would have said --- with some degree of confidence --- that a lot has been done to curb potential threats insofar as internet security is concerned. That was before I got to read this.
It's a short article about this trojan (among the most advanced today, apparently) which gets to steal the passwords (or whatever they're called) of people who access their bank accounts online. It does this by actually generating a video clip while a particular person is trying to log in to his/her account, using his/her infected computer. Simply put, whenever that person tries to access his bank account online, the trojan automatically springs into action and creates a video showing what that person is doing exactly (including his typing in of his password/access number) by capturing what is shown in the computer screen.
This video shows how the trojan does this exactly.
Chilling, ain't it?
It's amazing how innovative criminals (online ones, in particular) are able to keep themselves one step ahead of the authorities (cybercops, to some) who are after them, and the security specialists who are specifically hired to keep them at bay.
Perhaps, the only consolation with this most recent development is that, at least, the trojan involved herein is only targeting (at the moment!) Brazilian banks. But the comfort provided by this thought is bound to dissipate very soon, given the tremendous speed technology is able to spread itself across the globe.
So I'm taking back that consoling thought.
Now tell me. Would you now consider ordering things online? How about accessing your bank account? Or paying your bills?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Double Standards
Last September 1, Russia was said to have toughened up its laws against internet piracy as it tries to boost its bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). It appears that it's the only major economy left that's not yet a part of the 149-country association.
The United States, one of the countries who have not yet endorsed Russia's entry, has cited the latter's intellectual property protection, or the apparent lack thereof, as one of its main concerns.
A few months ago, in June, China also made news when it passed "stronger" legislation against internet piracy. This, despite allegations by certain sectors that the country has yet to show that its copyright protection efforts have any teeth at all.
Interestingly enough, China, despite the greater incidence of piracy and copyright infringement there, IS a member of the WTO and is considered by the US as a "major" trading partner.
So why the difference?
Perhaps it's in the fact that, with around 110 million internet users and 690,000 websites in the country alone, China is viewed more in terms of its money-making potential rather than the dangers it constantly poses to copyright owners and content providers. After all, next to the US, it's already China that has the biggest internet market around.
This observation, besides showing what is perhaps already that obvious, may perhaps give Russia (and a whole lot of others) some hints and tips on how to more effectively support it's WTO application. And it's not more anti-piracy laws and/or investigating bodies --- they could simply follow later on --- but more internet access to more people.
One last thing...
To end, it's rather interesting to note that businessmen (especially the big ones who get to control significantly the governments that see to their protection) are not the most intelligent bunch around. Didn't their mommies ever tell them never to count their chickens, before they've even hatched?
However, that said, this ugly duckling's not about to vent some real complaints. My mom's always told me, "the best things online, are free."
