1. Cyber Info Gathering Techniques

2. What are we going to talk about?
How bad guys collect information from you
What happens when they get information
How can you avoid becoming a victim

3. Direct Solicitation HOW: A bad guy just asks you for info
WHAT HAPPENS: This info is usually to track you down or use personal information against you
Cyber-bullying, blackmail, worse
Example: you send a picture, and the bad guy asks for money or for you to do something, or else they post it on your Facebook
AVOIDANCE: Don’t give out personal information or any other information that is not related to what you are doing
If you are playing a multiplayer game, do you really need to know where each other lives, what your real names are, and where you go to school?
If those things are needed for the game, consider not playing the game

4. Phishing
HOW: A bad guy sends you an with an evil link, and you click on the link
WHAT HAPPENS: The links almost always bring you to a web site that has “malware” (evil software) on it
You don’t even know the bad software is there – after that first click, your computer is given instructions by the bad guy or malware
AVOIDANCE: Don’t open s from people or organizations you do not know
Even if it is a person or organization you know about, ask yourself if you expect the
you get without asking to be ed is “unsolicited” – you are probably not doing things online that should cause you to get legitimate s without you asking for them

5. Open Source Collection
HOW: A bad guy looks you up on Google or Facebook, collects all your tweets, etc
WHAT HAPPENS: The information found on you can be used to find even more, and with enough time, sometimes gain control of your accounts
Bad guys do this for many reasons, but they are all designed to get access to your accounts online ( , Facebook, online game, bank, etc) or help the bad guy do direct asking
AVOIDANCE: Be careful what you post online
VERY hard to remove something completely; as a trusted adult to help you type your name into Google and see what comes up
Do not make your password something related to what you post somewhere
If you already posted stuff you want to remove, remove it right away – it will reduce the chances of it being found. You can also ask the site that was hosting it if it will delete it completely, and Google will remove a search result if you ask

6. Fake Websites / Customer Service
HOW: A bad guy pretends to be customer service or sets up a web site that looks ok, then asks you for information you would never give a bad guy!
WHAT HAPPENS: This information is usually used by the bad guy to pretend he is you
If he is going to do something bad or rack up a huge bill somewhere, he wants someone else to take the blame or pay the bill
Bad guys can also set up an account to look like you and ask your friends for their information
AVOIDANCE: ALWAYS ask a trusted adult when you are putting in personal information to a website or giving it to customer service
Even adults are fooled – even EXPERT adults are fooled – but two heads are better than one

7. Final Tips
Bad guys want your information so they can do bad things with it
You can enjoy the Internet without giving them this stuff
No website, game, or “new online friend” is worth the pain and suffering you will endure if you give out the wrong information
You can always ask a trusted adult for help, and you can always simply stop what you are doing and let the computer sit until you figure it out (or get help)

8. QUESTIONS?