Officer Ward

Officer Ward
Cyber Defender & Detention Center Security Officer

Officer Ward believes that most people who disrespect the privelages of Cyberspace are more ignorant than criminal, and that most cyber criminals can be rehabilitated into faithful cyber citizens through education about the dangers of delinquency in Cyberspace.

Working closely with Commander Omni and the Cyber Defense Academy, Officer Ward hopes to secure Cyberspace for everyone.

Favorite Quote:

It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do
- John Baptiste Moliere

Favorite Food:

Cupcakes

Interests:

Coaching softball, fishing, catching cyber criminals

August 25 2009

Cyber Crimes: Extortion

Hey everybody! Tell me if this has ever happened to you - You've got a note to give to a friend, but before you can give it to them, somebody takes it! They say that they won't give it back to you unless you do something for them, like giving them your lunch or doing their homework. Depending on what that note says, you might be willing to do whatever it takes to get it back!

Well, in the business world, this is called "extortion," and it is a problem many companies face. Companies will often put a lot of very confidential information on their servers, assuming that this information is safe. Of course, any Cyber Cadet worth their badge could tell them that information on computers is never really safe.

This is what happens - the cyber criminal will either get access to the secret information or will prevent the company from accessing its own information. The criminal will then demand money from the company, and if the company doesn't give them what they want, they will destroy the information. As you can imagine, this sort of thing could destroy most companies, and it is with that in mind that many companies work hard to stop this sort of attack. So how do they prevent extortion attacks? The same way you prevent most other cyber crimes. Internet security software, such as McAfee, Symantec, and Spybot Search and Destroy will definitely help in stopping incoming attacks, and, of course, something as simple as having a strong password is always a good idea.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Cyber Crimes

August 6 2009

Cyber Criminals: Lowe's Computer Intrusion

Ever hear of something called "wardriving"? If you have, then you know it's when someone drives around searching for unprotected Wi-Fi spots to sneak access to the Internet. If you don't know what it is, well, you should re-read the last sentence.

Recently, a Michigan man pleaded guilty to illegally accessing computers at a Lowe's home improvement store. He didn't realize it was a protected computer until after he tried to visit a Web site but kept getting forced back to a Lowe's corporate site. As soon as he realized what he had done, he signed off immediately. The man's roommate, however, decided to use the unprotected Wi-Fi to steal credit card numbers from the store's customers. They were both caught and are now facing federal charges, which brings me to my next point: don't steal Internet access!

Just because someone left their Wi-Fi access point unprotected doesn't give anyone the right to use it without their permission. That's like saying if you forget to chain up your bike one day, it is ok if someone comes along and takes it! So remember, always keep your Wi-Fi protected, and never use someone else's Wi-Fi unless they give you permission.

posted by Officer Ward
topic: Cyber Criminals