Local News
By Jesse Brunette/The Sudbury Star
Posted 14 days ago
Computers and social networking can’t always be trusted to protect your personal files.
The Cyber Crime Unit of the Greater Sudbury Police Service is advising computer users, especially those on social networking sites, to be mindful of suspects hacking into unsuspecting victims’ accounts, obtaining control of the victim’s internet including webcam and microphone.
“Our community is not isolated from these individuals and their targeting behavior, as computer technology has eliminated world boundaries,” Insp. Todd Zimmerman of the Criminal Investigations Division said in a release.
“Our Cyber Crime Unit is part of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, and they have the tools and the expertise to investigate these matters thoroughly.”
Cyber crime investigators in Los Angeles have called this extortion, “sextortion.” Zimmerman said police here have received similar complaints and is actively involved in a number of investigations.
A release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation explained that, “in several instances, the hacker posed online as a young woman’s friend or sister and sent messages with attachments asking if the victim wanted to see a scary video. Because the messages appeared to be from a trusted source, the victims usually didn’t think twice about opening the attachment.
“When they did, the virus secretly installed itself, and the hacker had total control over their computers, including all files and folders, webcams and microphones.”
The hackers try to gain control of young victims, mostly female, by threatening to post compromising or personal pictures or videos involving the victims, to social sites or by sending them to parents or guardians.
“Unsuspecting youthful victims, through trickery utilized by these hackers, are coerced into complying with their unlawful and inappropriate demands,” Zimmerman said. “These youth become victims through fear as they are uncomfortable speaking to their parents, friends or guardians often until it is too late.
“It is important to educate and speak openly about this emerging crime –
In the United States, there were 230 victims and 100 computers impacted by a single hacker.”
Police agencies in Canada and the United States have charged and successfully convicted hackers for extortion in cases similar to the one described above.
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Article source: http://thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2838084
Category: Cyber Crime
Article source: http://nationalcybersecurity.com/?p=41157
