StarBulletin.com

City's cybercrime risk rated high


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POSTED: Monday, March 22, 2010

Honolulu is among the nation's most vulnerable cities to cybercrime, according to a report from an anti-virus software company to be released today.

Honolulu ranked 11th out of 50 large cities for cybercrime risk in the report called “;Norton's Top 10 Riskiest Online Cities.”;

Cyberattacks, broadband connectivity, potential malware infections, online behavior, access to Wi-Fi spots and online shopping habits were factors that determined the ranking. Researchers analyzed 50 of the largest cities in the U.S. based on census data.

Honolulu residents access the Internet more than five times a day, a rate 34.5 percent greater than the national average, the report said.

Because of the city's high Internet activity, Norton Internet safety advocate Marian Merritt predicts the city will be a target for cybercrime.

“;I wouldn't be surprised if we see more attacks on Honolulu residents,”; she said.

Honolulu has the third-highest broadband connectivity rate, behind San Francisco and Seattle.

“;Broadband is more readily available in Honolulu than it is elsewhere in the U.S.,”; said Merritt.

Chris Duque, a retired Honolulu police detective who specialized in cybercrime investigations, agreed with the prediction.

Duque works as a consultant educating the community about Internet safety and security. He recommended Internet users change their online behavior, suggesting running an anti-virus feature before clicking on a file.

Some users are inclined to avoid this step and click on the file for immediate viewing as the anti-virus feature hampers the computer's speed, he said.

Seattle topped the list, with Boston ranked second and Washington, D.C., third. Experts say Boston and Washington experience a “;very high level”; of cybercrime, possibly due to the large number of wireless Internet spots.

Experts ranked Detroit the least vulnerable big city, saying residents were less likely to participate in risky online behavior compared with other cities studied. El Paso, Texas, and Memphis, Tenn., ranked second and third, respectively, among the large cities least vulnerable to cybercrime.

For more information on the report, go to www.NortonRiskiestOnlineCities.com.

 

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HEAVY USERS

Honolulu ranked 11th out of the 50 most populous U.S. cities in vulnerability to cybercrime, according to a report to be released today. Some factors that contributed to the ranking:

» Honolulu has 32 percent more people with broadband connections than the national average, ranking third in the study. Only Seattle and San Francisco have a higher percentage.

» The number of people accessing the Internet more than five times a day is 34.5 percent greater than the national average.

» People conducting online banking transactions outpace the national average by 33 percent.

Source: Norton from Symantec

 

KEEP SAFE

Here are some tips from experts on cybercrime protection:

» Think twice before you click twice.

» Always be suspicious of a link from e-mail or social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

» Do not enter sensitive data such as bank account information and Social Security numbers while on the Web at Wi-Fi spots.

» Secure your wireless router at home.

» Always keep you computer's operating system and software patched. Regularly update the operating system with security fixes.

» Use complex passwords for each site.

» Use legitimate security software that offers complete protection against online threats.

» Print out all online transactions such as retail and financial transactions for your records.

» Avoid conducting any financial transactions on a smart phone. It's easier to lose a cell phone than a laptop.

Source: Norton from Symantec and Chris Duque, cybercrime consultant and retired Honolulu police detective