Post by Simon Ellson
Everyone who follows me on Twitter will know that I am an avid reader. I also love movies and will be among the thousands of people who will be heading to the cinema this weekend to watch, The Hunger Games. The dystopian world of The Hunger Games has already captured the imagination of millions of fans around the world and cybercriminals are watching.
For cybercriminals causing havoc over the internet is no longer just about fame. It is about fortune. They constantly look for opportunities to cash in on our online behaviour, meaning that we need to remain vigilant. This week, Norton’s research found that a variety of searches related to The Hunger Games are turning up malicious results. Some of these contain “poisoned” links and although these are difficult to distinguish, these links can instantly infect your computer with viruses, keylogging programs (which allow criminals to monitor your typing) and other software that can wreak havoc on your smartphone, computer or tablet. So far there have been malicious results related to fans trying to find online copies of the movie and information about the author, Suzanne Collins.
Norton has found that the top search terms that are already returning poisoned results include:
- Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
- Hunger Games Free Movie Download
- Hunger Games Full Movie Torrent
Norton expects to see more, so, follow these three simple tips to protect yourself:
- Choose your allies carefully – Cybercriminals promise sensational content, such as leaked videos, to lure you into clicking on their poisoned links. It’s better to get your information from a website you trust, and use the free tool Norton Safe Web Lite to lead you to safe search results.
- Know how to defend yourself – Online security software from a reputable company will identify malicious links and protect against other unseen threats. Norton 360 allows you to surf online safely and will warn you away from lurking foes.
- Don’t be tempted by false hope – Remember the age-old saying; If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Evaluate the information you come across – all that glitters isn’t gold so don’t let your curiosity overcome common sense.
Enjoy the movie and have a great, safe weekend!