New project to boost fight against online data theft

Dawinderpal Sahota, Computing, Friday 18 June 2010 at 16:04:00

Microsoft spearheads a project to help security researchers report stolen
data

Microsoft is spearheading a project with the
National
Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) and other companies, including
eBay and Paypal, to help protect consumers from internet fraud.

Internet Fraud Alert is a
web-based system that allows security researchers to log compromised data they
find on the internet into a central database.

The data is most likely to comprise username and password information or
stolen credit card details.

The web tool will enable security companies to notify relevant banks and
institutions, meaning they can protect their customers and prevent potential
financial losses.

The companies involved in the project claim that in 2009 the
Anti-Phishing Working
Group (APWG) received more than 410,000 unique phishing email reports.

The group's most recent data shows that phishing is at an all-time high.

Microsoft is donating the tool to NCFTA, a non-profit organisation dedicated
to facilitating public-private partnerships between industry, law enforcement
and academia on cyber-security issues.

Global payment routing data provider Accuity has donated a component that
will help NCFTA vet institutions.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2265027/project-clamp-stolen-online