'Tis the season for online scams. Here are 12 of the most dangerous scams you're likely to see this holiday season.
The holiday shopping season is in full swing and so is the season for online scams. According to 2012 Holiday Shopping Study by McAfee and Harris Interactive, 70 percent of Americans will shop online this holiday season and 24 percent of Americans will shop online with a mobile device. That’s a target that has cyber criminals salivating. Here are 12 of the most dangerous scams you’re likely to see this holiday season, according to McAfee.
Malicious Mobile Apps
On the second day of Christmas, cyber scrooge gave to me malicious mobile apps. Smartphone and tablet owners love their apps—they’ve downloaded more than 25 billion apps for Android devices alone. But they’re not all safe. You could be downloading a malicious app designed to steal your information or send out premium-rate text messages. Get some information about the developer before you download.
Skype Message Scare
On the sixth day of Christmas, cyber scrooge gave to me Skype message scams. Lots of people now use Skype to connect with their loved ones during the holiday season, and that makes it an attractive target for criminals. Beware emails about “Skype toolbar for Outlook” or purporting to come from “Skype Security Center.” They’re seeking to install spyware or other malware to listen to your calls for personal information or even hold your files for ransom.
