Phishers steal money and identities from internet users.
Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global
network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have reminded
computer users of the threat posed by phishers following the
conviction of a 23-year-old identity thief who targeted users of
AOL.
Michael Dolan, formerly from West Haven, Connecticut and North
Miami Beach, Florida, has admitted stealing names, credit card
details and social security numbers from AOL members.
From 2002 until his arrest on 26 September 2006, Dolan used
malicious software to steal AOL screen names from chat rooms. The
users were then spammed with electronic greeting cards claiming to
be from Hallmark.com, but which in reality installed a Trojan horse
that prevented AOL customers from logging into their account
without entering personal information.
Dolan would use the stolen information to order online goods and
steal money from ATM machines.
A plea agreement with the US Department of Justice calls for
Dolan to spend seven years in prison, and then remain on supervised
probation for two to three years. He may also have to pay a fine of
$250,000.
"Identity theft is a growing problem, and it's all too easy for
innocent internet surfers to be duped into handing over
confidential information about themselves," said Graham Cluley, senior
technology consultant for Sophos. "Cybercriminals need to be given
a strong message that they will be given a serious punishment if
they are caught. Individuals, meanwhile, need to become more clued-up about how to protect
their identities online."
Dolan is scheduled to be sentenced on 14 November 2007. More
information about the case against him is described on the United
States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut website.
Last year Sophos revealed in a
survey that 58% of people receive a phishing email every day.
The security company recommends that businesses protect themselves
with a consolidated solution which can
control network access and
defend against the threats of spam, hackers, spyware and
viruses.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.