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The final GTT Cybercrime Prevention Hour Workshop discussed one of the most important aspects of cybercrime risk. Over several months the GTT workshops have covered many aspects cybercrime and concluded that devices and networks all have vulnerabilities that can be exploited, but the greatest weakness in our online security was often ourselves. Our behaviours, habits and natural curiosity create the vulnerabilities confidence tricksters use to find out information about us to commit fraud or extortion.
Workshop proposes factors to consider. What people do on the internet and how they access and use services affect an individual’s exposure to risks. GTT proposes that these ideas can be express as an algorithm that could be developed to measure personal risk. The edited presentation discussion outlining the proposed algorithm is the GTT YouTube Channel.
Malware is malicious software engineered to work for its makers, and not for the computer user. Malware might steal your identity, install unwanted programs, or encrypt and hold your digital files for ransom. As a term, “malware” covers all sorts of malicious software, including Trojans, spyware, adware, ransomware, and viruses. Malware is now often delivered by exploiting flaws (“exploits”) in legitimate programs.
Most of us think about Cybercrime tend to worry viruses, phishing scams, accounts being hacked, or our devices being stolen. The Networks we all use are another way a criminal can access our data to commit crime.
If you have Broadband services offered from domestic Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the UK, there are two different types of Modem, Cable or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.). Cable using optic fibre and ADSL use the standard telephone line which is copper wires.
There are several UK ISPs all use different modems and routers.
A modem converts the analogue signals from the cable or phone wire to digital signals (Modem stands for Modulator-Demodulator). The digital signals are sent to different devices by a Router. This is done via an Ethernet Cable or WiFi connection. Most ISP Broadband packages the Modem and Router are built into one device.
When you get Broadband your ISP provides instructions of how to set up your network and connect with Modem and Router to your devices and the phone or cable connection. If you do not have any information you check your ISP’s website or phone to find out about Protecting initial set up.
Every Modem/Router with have default factory settings to start with. It is important to check and change some of these setting before you start using your network. To do this you have to go the Administrator’s Control Panel.
On the back of the Router box there is usual a label showing the Admin Password and the WiFi Password.
The Admin Control Panel is access by connecting a computer to the Router opening a web browser and typing in the IP address. For example:
Your Admin Control Panel can be access from any computer connected to the internet if someone knows your IP address. Sometimes the default Admin password is easy to crack or is well known.
If someone can access your Network, they can access any device connected to your network, this means they can spy on you with webcams and steal valuable data like other passwords to emails and bank accounts.
The firewall prevents anyone access your network unless they have the right internet credentials. This can be IP addresses, devices, or passwords. The network firewall can allow exceptions for instance software update being the most common.
Note sometimes you must turn a firewall off when installing some antivirus software.
Parental controls allow the administrator to restrict internet searches to safe searching and block access to adult websites. It can also turn off access to certain devices at certain times such as bedtimes. With mobile devices it is not easy for parents to either supervise children 24 hours a day or prevent devices being smuggled into bedrooms.
When you log onto WiFi the SSID is the name of the WiFI Network. The default label will identify the ISP provider and network name is possible that default SSID and WiFI password might be known by someone passing by your home. It is a good ide to change this no matter how unlikely some would access your WiFi
You should make sure the WPA (Wireless Protected Access) is enable.
Many Routers allow setting up a Guest WiFi login this prevent a guest access your Home Network. This is useful if you have contractors in the house that need to access the internet while they are working in your home.
The Cybercrime Prevention Hour has considered how risk management tools could be used to inform, raise awareness, and provoke discussion on how to control individual and corporate risks.
The approach to examine risk is simple; identify, assess and deicide. Risk threats have two components consequences or impact and likelihood or probability of occurrence.
Cybercrime RISK is the potential for a THREAT is a person or thing that is likely to cause damage to exploit a VULNERABILITY such as a flaw, feature or user error that may result in some form of negative IMPACT.
The results using the Risk Assessment Matrix discussing different vulnerability domains can be then used to inform decision making. Whether a risk is taken or not, or an affordable or practical control, is initiated to give sufficient comfort and safety. Every individual or organisation will have different devices, software, networks, and behaviours to contend with there is no one solution for everyone however there are common themes.
The final step if for dealing with risks is the decision making. As with all risks there are 4 choices; either take, avoid, treat, or transfer. The first two choices are obvious, and it is simply a question of chancing it or not, but sometimes we have no choice and are forced into doing something that is beyond our comfort zone that feels potentially risky. In this situation we try control the risk or limit possibility of things going wrong.
Treating or controlling risks is best understood by giving an example:
“I use my phone for everything if I someone stole it what would I do? If the phone were stolen it would have my address book, diary, email, social media accounts, and personal photos.”
Should use the phone and nothing else or should I risk it?
How can I treat or control the risk?
If I implement the 6 controls above, I can drastically limit the impact if I should be unlucky and get my phone stolen. All these measures I can do with no additional cost. Only the first point would reduce the likelihood of my phone being stolen.
If my device is expensive to replace, I could consider transfer the risk of the loss by buying some personal insurance against theft.”
Aim: Become a student have an opportunity to learn some basic computer hardware skills so you can volunteer to help other by repairing and recycling old computers, repair their own equipment. If you live in the Bradford area this is an amazing opportunity to developing skills further in hardware repairs or building new computers.
Sessions are held online every week on a Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm for 12 weeks.
You will get old PC to practice and learning with, the ultimate challenge will be to bring it back to life!
What will you learn:
What activities will you do:
For more information and registration visit the School of Metal Bashers Web Page.
Most of us are unaware of how the internet works we use and trust our technology to do the daily things we need when we need it. Beneath the surface there a servers, cables, wireless transceivers, software, and people keeping it all running. For Internet Service Providers (ISPs) reliability and safety are paramount to maintain customer confidence.
Vast numbers of people are involved in keeping up with criminals and other that are continuing to exploit vulnerabilities to financial or political gains. Being vigilant against cybercrime is like continual cold war between good and evil trying to outsmart the opposition.
Recently the news released information about weapon grade security tools being harvested by unknown criminals. This week the US Government security have announced that state agencies have been hacked using SolarWinds Orion network hacking tools.
The GTT Cybercrime Prevention Hour were able to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes with guest speaker Iain Currie from BT.
If you would like to join a Cybercrime Vigilance project and attend one of our monthly workshops, please visit the GTT website project page and book your workshop place via the Eventbrite weblink.
Get Technology Together working in partnership with Solidaritech is offering a practical computer repair course for adults that is free to anyone living in the Bradford MDC area. The course offers 12 weeks intensive practical work on how to strip down a computer and rebuild it.
The GTT volunteers made this video to show how School of Metal Bashers could work. This year because of the COVID pandemic GTT will doing much of the classroom activities online using the Zoom App and offering remote tutor support with emails, phone calls and video chats.
The course, starting January and February 2021 will be delivered in weekly online class video call, with a computer kit, online resources, and tutor support.
This month the GTT Cybercrime Prevention Hour considered cybercrime risk. In conclusion Cybercrime risk is the potential threat of a person or thing that is likely to cause damage by exploiting a vulnerability (a flaw, feature or use error) that may result in a negative impact.
Threats can be general like scam emails sent out in large quantities in the hope that recipients might respond or can be target specifically at you. Cybercrime has many different motives often money or data, but sometimes can be more sinister such as entrapment or revenge. Everyone seems to be bombarded with junk email and nuisance calls these days, and the workshop concluded it is good to share the burden, learn more about the threats we all face and get support together.
There are 3 areas to examine: Networks, Devices and People.
Criminals rely on this. Hence the term “Phishing” scam emails are literally criminals fishing for people with hope to net an unsuspecting victim. Often posing as your ISP, PayPal, Apple, Microsoft, or Amazon suggesting there is a problem with your account or are offering a refund (“a carrot or stick”). The “hook” is the internet link in email which delivers the malware onto your device. If you click on the link you are “caught” and the damage is done.
If you want to learn more and help others please join the GTT Cybercrime Prevention Hour held monthly for more information see the GTT Upcoming Events, Cybercrime Vigilance and Student Area on this website.
GTT launched the Cybercrime Vigilance project with the support of the West Yorkshire Police Community Safety Fund. GTT hosts regular monthly workshops to discuss, share information, and learn about cybercrime prevention. It is a continual challenge for everyone as new technology develops.
The aims of the GTT Cybercrime Prevention Hour workshops will explore and collaborate to develop on going shared resources. GTT encourages everyone to Participate, Learn, Achieve, and Innovate together
It is free to join the workshop book a place by contacting GTT or via Event Brite.