What do social media, online banking, working remotely and communication have in common? Data and personal information.
While the internet has brought all of us together, it has also unfortunately lulled us into a false sense of security.
From passwords to credit card details and even home addresses, people nowadays have no qualms entrusting this information to complete strangers.
Because of this, fraud and identity theft has become a major problem. Poor security hygiene and ignorance are also to blame for this.
Fortunately, staying safe on the internet is relatively simple. With some common sense and a bit of effort, you’ll be able to cruise the information superhighway whilst keeping yourself safe.
1. Avoid disreputable websites
Hackers and scammers often make use of malware and viruses to gain access to your computer.
True to its namesake, keylogger viruses work by recording all of your keystrokes and sending this information to a third-party. This allows the hacker to steal sensitive information such as your bank account details and other passwords.
Viruses such as these are often found on certain websites that peddle pornography or other questionable content, like gambling.
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Alongside this, visiting these websites puts you at risk of contracting malware that can severely affect your machine’s performance or even damage it.
2. Install anti-virus software
It is shocking how a large percentage of people underestimate the importance of having anti-virus software.
Software from Norton, McAffee or Avast can detect and prevent virus or malware from attacking your computer. Additionally, anti-virus software comes equipped with firewalls that can block any potential incursions.
While not 100% effective, they provide a fair amount of protection from both viruses and malware.
3. Avoid oversharing information on social media
Social media has made it possible for us to connect with one another on a variety of levels. From sharing vacation pictures to checking into locations, we may unintentionally end up inviting strangers into the most intimate facets of our lives.
Whilst some may argue that users have the option to share information with friends only, the murky nature of Facebook’s privacy settings often leaves much to be desired.
This is especially dangerous for teenagers and younger children who may implicitly understand the risks of oversharing information.
As seen in a multitude of cases, child predators have taken to social media in order to prey on the vulnerable.
Educate your children on the risks associated with social media and why oversharing is dangerous. Deactivate location and camera settings on all of your devices to further protect your privacy.
4. Always get security updates
Do you hate having to put things on hold for that software update? Do you get frustrated that you’re being forced to restart again?
Well, it may make you feel better to know that besides fixing patches, software updates also include security improvements. This makes it that much more difficult for a malicious party to take advantage of any vulnerabilities.
So, the next time your phone or Windows has a new update, don’t hesitate to get it downloaded and installed ASAP.
5. Perform factory resets before donating or disposing of your phone
Time and time again, we’ve seen how sensitive pictures or information have been leaked from phones and misused by irresponsible parties.
Before you throw away your phone, perform a factory reset to ensure that you’re signed out of all accounts and all information has been deleted. Ensuring good security hygiene is a habit that should be regularly practiced.
Finally, avoid sending revealing pictures of yourself or your partner at all times. Besides the risk of those pictures falling into the wrong hands, there could potentially be legal issues if you’re underage.
Attackers have all the expertise and knowledge of hacking into applications to gain confidential data from the victim.
The easiest way for them to gain access to valuable data is by hacking email accounts.
Statistics highlight the fact that throughout the world every 1 in 4 accounts are hacked.Email accounts often contain valuable and confidential data like photos, invoices, receipts, addresses, contacts, banking details and often reset passwords for other accounts.
Everything that a hacker needs to cash in and commit an identity theft which can then balloon into a full-fledged cyber attack or data theft.
Email accounts can be compromised in a number of ways, but the most common methods used for hacking is through phishing emails, exploiting flaws in software, and guessing passwords.However, here are some simple ways to prevent attackers from hacking your email and gaining confidential data from you.
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have you heard about the identity theft and its cases around the world?
Here are the identity theft statistics that may surprise you.
Also read to know how you can avoid identity theft.
A study from Javelin strategy found that there were 16.7 million victims of identity theft in 2017, a record high.
It can take months or years to restore your credit and confirm your true identity with federal officials.
With just a little information, people can apply for loans and open new accounts that can hurt you financially.
Help yourself from becoming a victim by watching for people listening in as you give your credit card number over the phone.
Avoid using a debit card in high traffic areas such as a gas pump or public transportation areas.
People still fall victim to fraud by snail mail as well.
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