The Internet really needs a watchdog because the amount of malware heading our way, and by that I mean the inexperienced public, there's no way we could fend all of the attacks on our own, with just some anti-virus, be it upgraded on a regular basis. McAfee and the other security software vendors are going that extra mile and are warning users of most, if not all, of the dangers that lurk in the Internet shadows.

Phishing is one of the shrewdest types of cyber crime there is. It tricks the average Internet Joe into disclosing his personal information and then cleans him out. The latest such scheme surfaced in the United Kingdom, and it targets the victims of the HM Revenue and Customs data-loss scandal. The email promises a tax rebate of �215 for those willing to send personal information in a reply.

Of course, the cyber criminals aren't so upfront about it, claiming a refund for the HMRC scandal is well documented and very credible, and sending the bank details seems to be just natural in order to receive the money. If you have received such an email, McAfee security analyst Greg Day suggests that it be deleted right away. "This phishing attack has echoes of traditional get-rich-quick scams, preying on those keen to be compensated for the government losing their data. However, people must learn that there really is no such thing as free money," he says.

"Recent high-profile data loss incidents have left the public more vigilant about handing over information that has any link to HMRC, so this may not be the most thoroughly considered phishing attack," Day continued. Pretty ironic, isn't it? Ask for personal information from those hurt by giving it away in the first place. If the phishers aren't counting on one of those reverse psychology thingies shrinks tend to use, it won't really catch on. Nevertheless, the warning is out.