Internet Lawyer Blog
Nowadays, we’re using the web for numerous purposes, including, but not limited to, online banking. So, we should be able to protect our financial information. There are many options for hackers to gain access to financial information, and without the prerequisite security, financial information can be accessed by hackers. The law outlines the rules for financial institutions, such as data protection, data sharing, data preservation, security breach notification, or insurance requirements. Also, there are different standards when it comes to consumer and business bank accounts. For example, businesses face different prerequisites that must be fulfilled prior to submitting a claim towards a financial institution.
How might hackers commit banking fraud?
Looking at how hackers may even access your financial information, there are a few tools that need to be highlighted. Among them are Pivoting, Rubber ducks, and Pineapples. While this perhaps sounds odd, the way they can work is terrifying. Pivoting is a process hackers can use to break into a computer system by accessing it through an already-compromised device. For example, a hacker may access a web server by gaining access to an email server within the same network. These discrepancies can also occur between smart devices, which indicate a downside to the Internet of Things. Rubber ducks are special USB drives with small processors. They act as a “Trojan Horse” by downloading and re-uploading information quickly and autonomously without causing alerts. Pineapples, in comparison, are more likely to come across, but more difficult to avoid. These are devices that “clone” Wi-Fi networks. They will function in the same way, allowing individuals to connect and access the web, but can also be used to access and hack data after someone is connected. Pineapples and Rubber ducks are dangerous because they can download “keyloggers” onto computers, which would record and transfer confidential information (e.g., passwords, financial data) to the hacker’s computer.
What protects me from the hackers?
To protect your computers from hackers, two things are preferable. First, is a private network (i.e., a computer network that is not connected to the internet). Second, is using common sense. For example, avoid Rubber ducks, which is a fairly easy process, and while opting out of smart devices may be burdensome, it helps fend off pivoting attempts. For pineapples, it becomes trickier as some locations may not have any way of discerning the real network from the fake one, so it would do well if business activities were put on hold while in transit or while using a public Wi-Fi connection.
In general, financial institutions are obligated to reimburse a portion of the funds through the FDIC. However, there have been instances where a business or individual, through their own negligence in security, allowed the wire fraud to occur and were not reimbursed by the financial institution. This loophole indicates that under certain circumstances, without the implementation of the proper security by the business, the financial institution may not be required to reimburse the funds.
At our law firm, we assist clients with legal issues related to business, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and e-commerce transactions. You may contact us to setup a confidential consultation.