The Get Safe Online Week is to draw attention to the dangers posed by internet fraudsters.
This event ran from 7 to 11 November in 2011 - with the increase in smart phone malware, being one of the key threats highlighted.
Speaking at a summit to launch the week the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP - Minister for the Cabinet Office and for Cyber Security - urged internet users to be vigilant and follow the advice given in a new Rough Guide to Internet Security, available from the Get Safe Online website.
Mr Maude commented:
More and more people are using smart phones to transmit personal and financial information over the internet - whether it’s for online banking, shopping or social networking. This latest research from Get Safe Online shows that 17% of smart phone users now use their phone for money matters, and this doesn’t escape the notice of criminals.
So while accessing the web via a mobile device can be fun and save time, it’s important to be vigilant.
This week, we are encouraging everyone to take a few moments to visit the Get Safe Online website, and make sure they follow the right advice for using mobile devices securely and safely.
Some smart phone users find they are being charged for numerous premium-rate text messages they did not send.
Fraudsters are using online app stores to entice users to download rogue apps.
Often masquerading as ‘free levels’ to popular and legitimate online games - or even as security tools - rogue apps disguise malicious software (malware) which the user unwittingly downloads at the same time. Once downloaded, this malware enables fraudsters to take control of the victim’s phone, allowing them to make calls, send and intercept SMS and voicemail messages, and browse and download online content.
It also enables them to gain access to all personal and payment data available on the phone - which can then be sold on to and used by identity fraudsters - and to ‘spam’ other mobile web users to commit further fraud.