Experts: Computer phishing on the rise

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The Internet practice of phishing in which people are enticed to give away personal information in response to e-mails is on the rise, U.S. experts say.

Security experts say during the last eight months, the number of phishing tactics online has increased dramatically as have the number of people who fall prey to them, thinking they are from legitimate sources, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.

In fact, experts say the computer come-ons are increasing worldwide and 95 percent are focused on credit unions and banks.

Officials at a technology research firm, Gartner, told the Chronicle that while those sites have begun using security services such as SiteKey, the best anti-phishing tool is user awareness.

"No legitimate company anymore ever sends you an e-mail asking you to click on a link that automatically takes you to log in," Gartner Vice President John Pescatore told the newspaper. "It's just not done."