In the News
- December 13th 2011
This week: Intomobile.com reports McAfee’s threat predictions for 2012 – it’s all about mobile. And, Commontouch releases its quarterly Internet Threats Trend Report, highlighting prevalent Facebook attacks.
2012’S MUST-HAVE RESOLUTION: IMPROVE DIGITAL SECURITY AWARENESS
Whether you received a new computer, laptop, tablet, console or cell phone this holiday season, or you’re using one you’ve had for a while, protecting these devices from malware and scammers has never been more important according to new threat predictions from McAfee and Commtouch.
This lesson explores key security threats and helps students understand the need to better protect their devices, their personal information, and their safety in this New Year. Material for this lesson comes from two articles. The first is a Jan 1st 2012 Commtouch report, January 2012 - Internet Threats Trend Report that analyzes the types of security threats seen over the last 3 months of 2011. The second article, McAfee threat predictions 2012: Mobile will be a target, was published by Intomobile.com on Dec 30th 2011. This article discusses McAfee researchers that look into the trends that will drive the malware writers and scammers of 2012.
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Downloads
Set Yourself Up For a Safe, Secure and Private New Year
Companion Presentation
Parent Material
For the Press
Wish to include this story in your own news channel? Download the Press Release.
Lesson
Technology gift-giving in the recent holiday season brought tens of millions of new internet connected devices into homes. For example, Amazon reported selling over a million Kindle devices each week in December , and estimates suggest that 3.7 million Android phones, and 3.1 million iPhones, were sold on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone . Add to this the millions of laptop and desktop computers, game consoles, e-readers, and tablets given as gifts this year, and the numbers are staggering.
Unfortunately, it is not just the gift recipients who are excited over all that new tech goodness, cybercriminals are poised to take advantage of unprotected devices and unsuspecting users.
You do not have to be among their victims. By understanding the current methods used by cybercriminals, and how their exploits are likely to evolve in 2012, you can understand why you need to protect your devices and learn how to do so.
Two newly released reports explain what’s going on in the world of cybercrime, and what we should expect to see this year. The report from Commtouch, titled January 2012 - Internet Threats Trend Report, explains the types of consumer security threats seen during the last three months of 2011. The second report is from McAfee. It’s titled McAfee threat predictions 2012 and looks at trends that malware writers and scammers will leverage in 2012.
Grades - Appropriate for Grades 6-12 |
Time Required - 30-45 minutes |
Key Concepts
Students should understand key concepts of security threats and how to improve the protection of their internet connected devices as well as the vocabulary related to digital security.
Cyber criminals and scammers are aggressively targeting all internet connected devices and users.
Without security protections, your devices and your information will be compromised.
In addition to up-to-date security tools, you must practice basic safety rules in order to protect yourself, your device, and your friends and family from malicious attacks and exploitation.
Materials & Resources
| Equipment Needed | None. (Online video optional) |
| Full News Article | Intomobile.com article, Dec 30th 2011, “McAfee threat predictions 2012: Mobile will be a target” |
| Commtouch report, Jan 1st, 2012 “January 2012 - Internet Threats Trend Report” | |
| Lesson Plan |
Set Yourself Up For a Safe, Secure and Private New Year
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| Lesson Presentation |
Companion Presentation
|
Vocabulary
- 1. Fraudulent websites
- – Websites created with the intent to deceive consumers into thinking the site is legitimate so they can steal information, infect devices with malware, or commit other crimes.
- 2. Social engineering
- – A form of scam that uses people's trust, curiosity or greed to get consumers to take an action like clicking a link that will take them to a site with malware.
Learning Activities
Test your security software |
Ask students to look at each of the internet connected devices they access and learn whether or not they have up-to-date security software installed. If it’s not installed, have them talk to their parent or guardian about installing security programs. Note: If cost is a concern, have them search online for “best free security software for (the name of the device/operating system - for example “Android,” “Windows XP,” iPad). |
Test your tech terms: |
Give students a chance to show how well they understand common cybercrime terms by either matching the words and definitions as a group in class, or making this a quick homework assignment. Mix and match the words found in the downloadable lesson material. |
Professional Development
This lesson looks closely at two high risks that students already are or will be facing in 2012. The first is that the majority of youth still consistently fall for social engineering and spam attacks; the second risk is they fail to install, and keep current, security software on their devices.
You can leverage this lesson to increase our own learning by gaining a deeper understanding of one or both of these areas:
Look further into the options of mobile security.
The NPD group found that “among smartphone users, 82% have no security products installed on their phones; [though]the percentage of users addressing this concern varies by platform, according to NPD's "Emerging Technology Trends: Mobile Security" report. Although iPhone and Android smartphone owners share similar security concerns, 30% of Android smartphone owners have installed security products on their phones, compared to just 6% of iPhone owners. ”
Explore the issues surrounding mobile security.
From the numbers, it would seem that many Android users recognize the greater risks on their platform and untested marketplace apps and have taken steps – installing security software – to be better protected. Unfortunately, most users with free android antivirus scanners aren’t protected in spite of their efforts of installing security software. Use the links in the additional resources section as a jump off point to learn more about mobile security issues.
Research the psychological factors that pull consumers – especially teens – into social engineering and spam/scam exploits.
All of these exploits follow a clear path, dangling something interesting or concerning in front of a user and convincing them to act before they think. Understanding this phenomenon and learning to identify these exploits is a critical life skill for you and your students. The links in the additional resources section will also provide an excellent jump of point for this area.
Learn more about how to protect internet connected devices.
Start with the article Giving Technology gifts this Season - here are some simple steps to safer devices, and find out what you need to do to better secure your own devices, your student’s devices, and the school’s devices.
Parent Tips
Chances are you, or someone else, have given your child some type of internet connected device this holiday season. These devices have wonderfully enriching potential, but they do come with a few risks that need to be managed both through education and through security tools.
Unfortunately, it is not just your child who is excited over all that new tech goodness, cybercriminals are poised to take advantage of unprotected devices and unsuspecting users. Yet, you and your child do not have to be among their victims. By understanding the current methods used by cybercriminals, and how their exploits are likely to evolve in 2012 your student can understand the need to protect their devices.
