The International Monetary Fund is in the headlines again, and this time it has nothing to do with Dominique Strauss-Kahn being accused of sexual assault. This time the IMF is dealing with an entirely new threat: computer hackers. According to reports, this "large and sophisticated" cyber-attack targeted the organization a few months ago because of the nature of the information in their computer systems: highly confidential data regarding global economies and finances. This story is relevant because it puts a spotlight on the changes in Internet security vulnerabilities that exist online. Computer hackers may be getting bolder in their attacks, but one thing remains the same: individuals who use a VPN service are generally safer.
As more personal information winds up on the Web, more hackers come together to attack and steal that data. Credit card numbers appear to be the hot-ticket item, as the April attacks on Sony and the more recent assault on Citibank indicate. As technology continues to evolve, hackers need to adjust to these changes. Kevin Mitnick, a former hacker and current information security consultant, warns in a recent NPR story that "anything is vulnerable to attack given enough time and resources."
According to Mitnick, there is hope. There are things that every Internet user can do to protect their personal information. He recommends using using a VPN service like GoTrusted's. Not only will a VPN account make your Internet use completely secure, but it turns public WiFi connections private for maximum safety. Even though the service will not prevent corporate breaches, it helps users protect their own personal computers from the same attacks.
