We're all in a holiday mood this time of year, and criminals are no exception.
Many of them will be targeting your computer with viruses in the next few weeks that will definitely prey on your holiday spirit.
This is the time of year we let our guard down when we're online, whether its a video from a friend on Facebook or an unbeatable holiday deal on jewelry.
But experts say they all run the risk of infecting your computer.
The security firm McAfee has just released a list of online dangers its calling the "12 Scams of Christmas." See which 12 scams they say are especially dangerous and you should be looking out for:
(1) Charity Phishing Scams – Be Careful Who You Give To
During the holiday season, hackers take advantage of citizens’ generosity by sending e-mails that appear to be from legitimate charitable organizations.
In reality, they are fake Web sites designed to steal donations, credit card information and the identities of donors.
(2) Fake Invoices from Delivery Services to Steal Your Money
During the holidays, cybercriminals often send fake invoices and delivery notifications appearing to be from Federal Express, UPS or the U.S. Customs Service.
They e-mail consumers asking for credit card details to credit back the account, or require users to open an online invoice or customs form to receive the package. Once completed, the person’s information is stolen or malware is automatically installed on their computer.
(3) Social Networking – A Cybercriminal “Wants to be Your Friend”
Cybercriminals take advantage of this social time of the year by sending authentic-looking “New Friend Request” e-mails from social networking sites.
Internet users should beware that clicking on links in these e-mails can automatically install malware on computers and steal personal information.
(4) The Dangers of Holiday E-Cards
Cyber thieves cash in on consumers who send holiday e-cards in an effort to be environmentally conscious. Last holiday season, McAfee Labs discovered a worm masked as Hallmark e-cards and McDonald’s and Coca-Cola holiday promotions.
Holiday-themed PowerPoint e-mail attachments are also popular among cybercriminals. Be careful what you click on.
(5) “Luxury” Holiday Jewelry Comes at a High Price
McAfee Labs recently uncovered a new holiday campaign that leads shoppers to malware-ridden sites offering “discounted” luxury gifts from Cartier, Gucci, and Tag Heuer.
Cybercriminals even use fraudulent logos of the Better Business Bureau to trick shoppers into buying products they never receive.
(6) Practice Safe Holiday Shopping – Online Identity Theft on the Rise
Forrester Research Inc. predicts online holiday sales will increase this year, as more bargain hunters turn to the Web for deals.
While users shop and surf on open hotspots, hackers can spy on their activity in an attempt to steal their personal information. McAfee tells users never to shop online from a public computer or on an open Wi-Fi network.
(7) Christmas Carol Lyrics Can Be Dangerous – Risky Holiday Searches
During the holidays, hackers create fraudulent holiday-related Web sites for people searching for a holiday ringtone or wallpaper, Christmas carol lyrics or a festive screensaver.
Downloading holiday-themed files may infect one’s computer with spyware, adware or other malware. McAfee found one Christmas carol download site that led searchers to adware, spyware and other potentially unwanted programs.
(8) Out of Work – Job-Related E-mail Scams
The U.S. unemployment rate recently spiked to 10.2 per cent, the highest level since 1983. Scammers are preying on desperate job-seekers in the poor economy, with the promise of high-paying jobs and work-from-home moneymaking opportunities.
Once interested persons submit their information and pay their “set-up” fee, hackers steal their money instead of following through on the promised employment opportunity.
(9) Outbidding for Crime – Auction Site FraudScammers often lurk on auction sites during the holiday season. Buyers should beware of auction deals that appear too good to be true, because often times these purchases never reach their new owner.
(10) Password Stealing Scams
Password theft is rampant during the holidays, as thieves use low-cost tools to uncover a person’s password and send out malware to record keystrokes, called keylogging.
Once criminals have access to one or more passwords, they gain vast access to consumers’ bank and credit card details and clean out accounts within minutes. They also commonly send out spam from a user’s account to their contacts.
(11) E-Mail Banking Scams
Cybercriminals trick consumers into divulging their bank details by sending official-looking e-mails from financial institutions.
They ask users to confirm their account information, including a user name and password, with a warning that their account will become invalid if they do not comply. Then they often sell this information through an underground online black market.
McAfee Labs believes cybercriminals are more actively scamming consumers with this tactic during the holidays since people are monitoring their purchases closely.
(12) Your Files for Ransom – Ransomware Scams
Hackers gain control of people’s computers through several of these holiday scams. They then act as virtual kidnappers to hijack computer files and encrypt them, making them unreadable and inaccessible.
The scammer holds the user’s files ransom by demanding payment in exchange for getting them back.
The experts say be extra watchful during the holiday season and make sure your computer's security system is updated.
Also remember to be vigilant online and careful what e-mails, links and popups you click on.
