AOL and security solutions provider Cyota announced yesterday that
they are working together to identify and block access to suspected
phishing sites, in yet another initiative aimed at tackling the
on-line scam.
According to
AOL
, whenever a possible phishing
site is identified, it will limit client access to that site, and
inform any of its members who attempt to visit it that it is
suspected of being a dangerous site.
Phishing – the practice of using fraudulent e-mail and fake
web sites to solicit sensitive personal information from users – is
growing dramatically.
According to a recent report by the Anti-Phishing Working
Group (
APWG
), the number of phishing attacks in
January jumped 42% from those reported in December, while the
number of unique phishing sites jumped 47% in the same
period.
A survey published earlier this month by the Pew Internet
& American Life Project adds that 35% of users have received
phishing e-mail, and that 2% have provided the information
requested.
"Phishing and identity theft are the fastest-growing security
threats on-line, and we will work around the clock to protect our
members with the tools we have available," said Tatiana Platt,
AOL
Senior Vice President and Chief Trust
Officer.
"By limiting our members' access to suspected phishing sites,
we're trying to cut the lines before a phisher can reel them in and
steal sensitive financial and personal information," she
added.
