In a previous article the author discussed internet security and how it relates to online bingo. Obviously anyone who plays bingo online is rightfully concerned about internet security especially if their account is funded by a credit card. There are plenty of less than ethical websites who will share information with spammers and adware distributors. One of the most common scams visited on computer users is the rogue security program. Many hackers target online gaming including online bingo.

A rogue security program will display a dialog box stating the user’s computer is infected with spyware and viruses. These dialog boxes are made to look like a legitimate security program such as Norton or Microsoft. If the person encountering one of these pop ups take any action including clicking the ‘x’ in the dialog box the rogue program will install itself regardless of the wishes of the user. This is known as a ‘drive by download.’ Online bingo players should be aware that no legitimate program can actually scan their systems without consent and these scans are fake.

Should the user be unfortunate enough to have such a program installed they will be subjected to endless pop ups warning that their computer is infected. Many of these programs are installed via a Trojan and are designed to steal credit card, banking, and personal information. Many of these programs will cause a computer to slow to a crawl and will install files that are very difficult to detect and remove.

Online bingo players should be aware of these rogue programs because many hackers deliberately target online bingo websites to steal credit card information. Some rogue programs may install what is known as a keylogger which records every keystroke on a computer. Keyloggers are used to steal passwords and banking information. While most online bingo sites are perfectly safe and above board hackers can infiltrate a site and cause considerable damage before they are discovered. Online bingo players should be aware of the threats to internet security. Play bingo, have fun, but be safe!