NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

PC Tools: Cybercriminals Target Super Sunday as Their Biggest Game Ever!

According to comScore's survey last year, two-thirds of respondents intended to log onto the internet on Super Sunday as sports fans spend more time researching the players, teams and other game-related topics. This year, researchers expect the online numbers to increase.

With the masses of people online, cybercriminals target Super Sunday as more football fan-related ads, commercials and betting sites explode on the internet. People can expect more aggressive threats, scams and malware activity.

• Ad Age predicts that advertisers will use social media at record levels to fan the flames of their ads. Increased numbers of fake ads targeting young males will appear in popular forums and sites. These ads featuring attractive women or cheerleaders encourage people to click on the links which may take them to suspicious or malicious websites.
• A "drive-by attack" can occur when a link is inserted onto popular video sharing websites that promise users access to Super Sunday commercials. If a user clicks on the link, they may be redirected to ads not related to Super Sunday or in more extreme cases, users' personal information may be taken unknowingly through malicious system exploits.
• In addition to attacking users, hackers are increasingly targeting legitimate fan and sports websites through redirected links or ads. A football fan scanning the latest sports updates may unknowingly have malware downloading through interactive animations on the page.

To protect users' privacy and safeguard their personal information, leading web browser companies are developing new technologies to better restrict personal data and tracking cookies from online advertisers. PC Tools also recommends running up-to-date anti-virus and security software for greater protection.

"Whenever there is a major event, like Super Sunday, we see this kind of increased activity," said Stephanie Edwards, Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing of PC Tools. "Fans and TV audiences want to enjoy the game while surfing game and commercials-related websites. They need protection software that's simple, effective and affordable. Our powerful PC Tools 2011 protection products do just that and more."

PC Tools' award-winning technology detects and blocks malware and alerts users to harmful websites. PC Tools Internet Security 2011 blocks new threats faster than traditional security products and PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2011 defends your computer with multiple layers of protection to stop threats at every entry point.

FIVE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF BEFORE AND AFTER KICK-OFF!

AVOID FUMBLING ON FILE-SHARE SITES

Be careful downloading Super Sunday commercials and videos on these kinds of web sites, as they can leave you vulnerable to viruses and malware. PC Tools' innovative technology delivers real-time behavioral protection to stop new and current threats. Check out http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ and http://www.pctools.com/internet-security/.

TACKLE CYBERCRIMINALS

Make sure you have installed the latest version of a security software solution. PC Tools offers products to keep your Super Sunday experience safe at www.pctools.com.

INTERCEPT POP-UP ADS AND VIDEOS

If a virus alert, suspicious ad or other video/animation appears on your computer screen, don't click on it and shut down the file. Run your antivirus software to keep yourself safe and protected. Browser Defender protects against web-based attacks like phishing attempts and malicious downloads before they infect your system.

WIN WITH A STRONG DEFENSIVE LINE

Turn on a Firewall. A Firewall protects your computer by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. PC Tools Firewall Plus 7 is available for free at http://www.pctools.com/firewall/.

SCORE A SECURE PASSWORD

Don't let cybercriminals steal from you. Since cybercriminals can potentially crack your password, PC Tools recommends you change it often. PC Tools offers a free password generator at http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/.

Grayling Connecting Point
Curtis Sparrer, VP, 415-442-4034
Mobile: 713-240-0485
curtis.sparrer@graylingcp.com
or
PC Tools
Judy Kaneko, 650-527-8690
Mobile: 408-203-0014
Senior Public Relations Manager
jkaneko@pctools.com