Jobs that promise to "pay per install" can seem like an easy work-at-home solution. Unfortunately many of these jobs are simply a way for cyber criminals to infect many personal computers with software that will steal their personal information.
Former White House cyber expert Theresa Payton shares some advice on spotting and avoiding these scams.
HOW TO AVOID THE BOTNET HERDERS
Would you know if your child was a botnet herder?
There's a new game in town offering jobs to anyone with a home office and a computer. Be careful what you or your kids accept when applying for jobs online. You or your kids may be accepting a job working for a Cybercriminal outfit.
Cybercriminals are posting help wanted ads on the internet and they are hiring people to help them infect computers across the Carolinas and even across the globe. The going rate? $180 for every 1,000 PCs infected.
YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR KIDS FROM THIS SCAM:
Some of the ads are obvious and you know you are infecting computers. Some, are not so obvious and may sound more like you are working for a marketing company. Kids looking to earn money over spring break and summer months could fall into a trap and they may not realize they are doing something wrong.
HOW TO SPOT THE ADS:
In the more obvious ads, Cybercriminals are hiring individuals willing to infect people's computers with malicious software. In the less obvious, the ads may look like you are doing marketing and you just need to get the message out through emails and web pages.
The job duties may include:
Send spam or socially engineered emails
Include a link to malicious software
Job performance is determined by how many PCs they can infect.
PCs in the UK and the US are considered the target group.
They will even pay your wages to you via services such as PayPal and Western Union.
Once the PC is infected, the cybercriminals can come in after that and do what they want.
They may provide you with:
-A kit or directs you to places where you can buy a kit to create your web page or emails.
-Instructions on how to hide their software behind the link.
HOW TO AVOID THE SCAM
One way to avoid this scam is to check in with your Better Business Bureau.
Remind your kids not to apply for jobs online without discussing it with you first.
Follow the rule: If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
WORD FOR THE WEEK
Botnet Herder
A botnet herder is a person that has installed software on thousands of machines and has them in their control. They may use the herd of machines, which they call zombies, for attacks on other machines. Like to create mail sent to people in your address book that looks like it is from you, or to steal your information. Botnet herders will also rent out their herd to cybercriminals to use.
SIGNS THAT YOUR PC MAY BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF A BOTNET HERDER
Computer programs taking longer than usual to load
Computer locks up or reboots itself
Odd error messages
Peripheral devices such as printers and scanners are not recognized
Lots of internal noise such as disk writing or beeping or clicking
Computer seems to be running tasks even when you have no programs open
Files corrupted or missing
Friends call or email to tell you they are getting a lot of strange email traffic from your account
Your antivirus software runs too quickly or not at all
If your computer has any of these symptoms, run your Antivirus software. If it continues, contact your antivirus software provider and the company that services your machine for professional assistance.
JOBSITES TO BLOCK YOUR KIDS FROM VISITING:
Where are some of these criminal jobsites? Many of them change their names to avoid detection.
Two of the more recent sites that you want to block are:
Pay-Per-Install dot org
earning 4 u dot com
http://www.charlottemarketingfirms.com
http://www.optimizationadvertising.com
