Editorial: Crooks of net target us all

More people are becoming targets of hackers.

Cyber criminals are stooping to new lows to get cash from unsuspecting victims.

This week it emerged that online cyber criminals deleted an Auckland couple's computer files, including precious photos and videos of their children, and demanded a ransom of $750 to restore them.

The pair - parents of children aged 6 and 9 - were victims of the so-called "CryptoWall 3.0 ransom-ware", a malicious virus which infected their desktop computer in July and is part of what NetSafe says is a rapidly growing problem.

Fortunately the family found a website with free software which, after a 12-hour "deep scan", enabled the recovery of deleted files.

The case highlights the lengths cyber criminals are willing to go to get money, it also shows just how they target our weaknesses.

They know just how upsetting losing a collection of family photos or videos will be for most people.

Security experts are already predicting it could be a merry holiday season for hackers, with millions of new and potentially vulnerable internet-connected gadgets hitting the market.

They say the vulnerabilities of "Internet of Things" devices such as fitness bands, smartwatches, drones and connected appliances could be exploited as consumers adopt these products for the holiday season.

Gary Davis, who heads consumer online safety for Intel, says the holidays could be a vulnerable time for consumers who often do not take time to properly secure them. In some cases, security can be improved by simply changing the password on the device.

The internet has changed the ways we communicate. It provides a platform for people to share their interests, keep up-to-date with the news of the day and share events in their daily lives. It is also a platform for cyber criminals to run their scams.

While it easy to assume we can be safe - that security suites and our life experience will protect us - the truth is we are all vulnerable and the only way to combat this is by increasing our knowledge of online security.