As someone who spent about a third of his life working one way or another in I.T. (information technology) the subject of cyber security is quite close to my heart; it should be important to everyone and anyone who owns any device that connects to The Internet.
Sadly, over the years, I have come into contact (through my work as a Computer Consultant) with many, often, but not always, elderly and vulnerable (sometimes gullible) 'victims' of computer and phone scams. I have been called out to sort out the 'damage' and sometimes give advice.
I am 'triggered' to writing this particular blog (as usual at 3/4 a.m. owing to pain that wakes me - see other blogs) because there is something on my mind about cyber security. I have joined an about to start Open University course on Creative Writing and obviously I had to register and set-up a few online aspects of this (partly free) course. Already, even before the course starts I have a "follower" apparently based in Nigeria. I don't carry any colour or Nationality prejudice but it is a known fact that a lot of computer scammers reside in Nigeria and one has to ask - why would anyone at this early stage wish to follow me?
Thus I am a little nervous as I have a lot of material on the blog that with some skill and 'private eye' type efforts - one could gain an insight into my life (which in turn is handy for I.D. theft).
For those who know little or nothing of computer scams:
- Information is power.
- Knowledge of family connections is power.
- Gleaning data information - like email addresses and so on is power.
- Just addresses, whether home or email can be useful to scammers and I.D. theft 'merchants'.
- People that are open and transparent as a matter of principle are great news for scammers.
- The objective with I.D. theft is often as simple as opening accounts (loans etc.) in the name of the victim but with access by the scammer.
- Scammers are far more imaginative with their criminal activities than 'the man or woman in the street' could ever be and new scams appear hourly.
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