Precautions advised as return to school will see an upsurge in use of mobiles and computers by children

Owners of iPhones and parents of children who have them have been urged to check the settings of a feature on the device which could mean they receive unsolicited explicit images.

Microsoft’s announcement that it is doubling its reward for reporting potentially exploitable vulnerabilities in its software to $100,000 (€92,000) makes it the latest of a number of the world’s top companies to offer “bug bounties”.

Thousands of Minecraft fans have reportedly downloaded harmful scareware through the Google Play Store.

Some 600,000 android users have accidentally installed fake apps which pretended to be cheats for the popular online game Minecraft.

Online payment systems may be a target of cyber criminals this year, warns an internet security firm.

Shoppers tempted to avoid the festive crowds by going online for Christmas presents are being warned of the pitfalls of shopping online.

Internet security firm ESET has published a step-by-step five-point plan to safeguard children on one of the top social media sites.

BALLOON STOLEN AT ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FEST

An internet security company is warning about a widespread Facebook scam that is exploiting the tragic suicide of comic actor Robin Williams.

The death of Robin Williams is being exploited with fake links to a video message from the late star.

Owners of mobile phones and tablets using Android technology are under threat from hackers who use malware to lock down their devices until the owners pay a ransom.

Homes and businesses have been warned they have just two weeks to secure personal and vital business information on their computers before a gang of international cybercriminals begins another campaign of hacking which has so far netted them €75m.

A new generation of computer hackers are set to target smartphones and televisions, games consoles and even smart cars, a leading IT security company has warned.

91% of Irish people have spent money online in the last year.

Eight out of 10 children sexually abused online have had their social network site accessed by their abuser to gain information about them.

Irish computer users may have lost up to €300m from cybercrime, according to a survey of 1,000 adults.

An internet security company is urging parents to monitor their children’s online activity after it emerged that 13% of people aged 15 to 24 admitted to being cyber-bullied.

New figures show two thirds of Irish people say they are using legitimate software on their computers.