Phishing emails promise vaccines but deliver viruses

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December 2nd, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin

This week, millions received emails that appeared to be sent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, directing them to an official government website to fill out a vaccination form. Those who followed links in the emails were actually sent to a page that automatically downloaded malicious software onto their PCs. Once the hackers who sent the phishing emails gain control of a PC, they use it to commit identity theft, attack other computers, or serve up more spam.

It's typical for hackers to take advantage of major stories in order to entice potential victims with spam emails. In addition to flu vaccines, recent phishing emails have purported to offer information related to Tiger Woods' car crash and holiday shopping. If you receive an email from an unknown sender that prompts you to click on a link or download a file, even if it appears to be legitimate, look more closely at the email or web address. Rather than trusting a link in an unsolicited email, seek out desired information yourself.

Be sure to install Internet security software on your computer, in case you do inadvertently find your way to a malware-infested website, and set it to update automatically. And consider investing in identity theft protection, to guard against the ultimate goal of most phishing emails and other online scams.