The Most Common Cybercrimes You Should Know
The Internet is a great place to be, full of information and useful things. You can buy anything you want online, from clothes to food or even a new laptop.
However, the Internet has also become the most dangerous place in the world for people who want to cyber-attack others. We are going to talk about some tips about how to prevent those attacks from happening, as well as what you should do if they actually happen.
The first thing that we recommend doing is changing your password regularly, without fail. If it’s a simple password that anyone could easily guess, then your accounts will be much less secure than they would be if you had a very complex one
The second tip is not to open emails from unknown sources. Even think twice before opening an email from someone you know, because it could have been hacked.
Instead, send them a simple message asking if they actually meant to send that email or whether their account was hacked.
Finally, use antivirus software at all times, to make sure that your device is clean and not full of viruses. Much like your wallet would be full of cash.
However, what happens if you’re faced with cybercrime? What should do first?
Here are some tips for the first steps you should take:
1) You need to stop the attack immediately
2) You should record as much information as possible about the attacker
3) Report the crime to law enforcement agencies
4) If you are personally involved in activities online (such as watching adult-themed videos, gambling, etc), your information might be compromised.
Finally, you can follow these simple ways to protect yourself online:
1) Do not write down passwords on a sticky note and attach it to the front of your computer or monitor, this is by far the easiest way for cybercriminals to steal your password.
2) Only visit websites that are known to be trustworthy. Make sure that their SSL Certificate has been verified.
3) When shopping online make sure you check the URL carefully before clicking any links or entering any personal details! This is because some phishing scams will try and fool you into thinking they’re a legitimate site and trick you into entering your personal details such as banking information which could leave your bank account vulnerable.
4) When sending an important email, sign it using your PGP key. This is one of the most secure ways to encrypt your message and only the intended recipient will be able to decrypt and read it. There are plenty of free stand-alone programs you can download such as Gpg4win for PC and GPG Suite for Mac that allow you to use this technology within your regular email client (such as Outlook).
5) If a work colleague isn’t answering their phone, they may have been fired or laid off so don’t trust any instructions given by someone who might call you pretending to be from their company asking for money! Instead, contact them via another number if possible or check with the company’s IT services team to see if they know of any issues.
6) Ensure all laptops are secure by using hard disk encryption software such as AlertBoot. This will ensure that even if your laptop is lost or stolen, no one can access any of your company’s confidential data stored on it.
7) Make sure all computers are patched with the latest updates. If possible disable autorun and only allow specific applications to be run. This will ensure that ransomware is unable to infect systems and encrypt their drives and files unless it is manually executed by an unsuspecting user opening an infected file or removable media.
8) Cybercriminals often use social engineering techniques such as phishing scams where they send fake emails or messages on social networking sites that trick people into giving them sensitive information such as credit card numbers. To avoid this one should always exercise due diligence while email/messaging any unknown party and never click on links or open attachments even if they appear to be from a legitimate source.
By following these tips you can lessen the chances of your being a victim of cybercrimes. Take each tip here seriously, and be sure to inform and help others within your family as well to be aware of the dangers.
