Azerbaijan joins international anti-phishing efforts
By Nigar Orujova
The computer emergency response team (CERT) functioning under the State Agency for Special Communications and Information Security of Special State Protection Service, has become a member of the international Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), CERT reports.
APWG was founded in 2003 to investigate the phishing attacks and to coordinate the international activity to containment phishing. The group includes more than 3,200 members from more than 1,700 companies and agencies worldwide.
Phishing attack is an attempt to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is aimed at the specific people or enterprises. Phishing attack is carried out by means of the mass mailing of electronic letters on behalf of famous brands.
Phishing emails may contain links to websites that are infected with malware. Such emails may also contain the direct reference to the false website of brands, and any user data entries here threatens access to user data, incluing his/her bank accounts.
According to the Netcraft analytical company report, the number of the real phishing attacks in the AzNet sector increased by 56.1 percent in the first quarter of 2013.
The analysis is prepared on the base of the Netcraft Toolbar program, which is the module of Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer browser. The program cautions the user on the hazardous websites, as well as inform that the phishing attack was prevented.
The report said one effective phishing attack accounts for 2,409 websites in the .az domain. The attack is organized to gain money or personal information.
Currently, Netcraft Toolbar is installed on over 4,800 personal computers in Azerbaijan, which is by 4.1 percent more as compared to the beginning of the year.
Development of the ICT sphere in Azerbaijan leads to the cybercrime growth.
Azerbaijani ICT Ministry is coordinating the work of various state agencies in the framework of ensuring the operation of the Electronic Security Center.
The Electronic Security Center under the ICT Ministry was created by the presidential decree in March 2013.
The Electronic Security Center is planning to launch seminars and periodic publication of a "virus bulletin" containing information about the most recent threats. It is also planned to launch a special website in the near future.
These efforts are being made as Azerbaijan is working to boost its ICT sector. 2013 was declared the year of information and communication technologies in January.