Football’s 2010 World Cup has sparked an unprecedented surge in Internet usage since kick-off barely a week ago. The downside is that cybercriminals looking to profit from the popularity of tournament are set to cash in.

“Fortunately,” says Symantec’s Con Mallon, “fans need only follow a few simple ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ to keep the risks of an unpleasant online experience at a minimum.”

These include:

Do’s

  • Ensure you have legitimate, updated security software
  • Make sure you run frequent security scans
  • Regularly back up your data and information to a secure device or online storage facility
  • Increase the security settings on your browser
  • Create strong, unique passwords (a mixture of upper and lower case letters as well as numbers) and change them regularly
  • Review your bank and credit card statements regularly for suspicious transactions
  • Check the URLs of web pages where you enter personal information such as your address or credit card details and ensure the sites use encryption
  • Update your privacy settings on social networking sites
  • Be careful when using Bluetooth or WiFi hotspots
  • Only shop at reputable/legitimate retail sites.

Don’ts                                       

  • Don’t share information about your whereabouts online during the World Cup – you could have an unpleasant surprise when you return to you home or hotel room
  • Don’t open suspicious/unsolicited e-mails or attachments (i.e. lottery notifications or 2010 ticket offers)
  • Don’t download applications from unofficial websites
  • Don’t respond to e-mails that ask for personal or financial information
  • Don’t open suspicious error displays on a web page – they could be scams to trick you into buying fake security software or “scareware”
  • Don’t answer requests for money from social network “friends”
  • Don’t accept unsolicited invitations to join online groups centred around teams and players
  • Don’t view suspicious football videos online or on social networks
  • Don’t leave your mobile device or laptop unattended
  • Don’t forget to logout of websites when your session is finished.

Says Mallon: “Fans who employ a little ‘cybersense’ and adhere to these simple guidelines can sit back and enjoy a risk-free 2010 World Cup online extravaganza.”