Many people still don’t understand the dangers of an unsecured PC. It’s like leaving your home without locking the door, enabling anyone to enter and take whatever catches their eye.

The risks are the same if you’re careless with your computer. Failing to secure it gives potential hackers an easy way into the system, making stealing and misusing your data a walk in the park.

These are the top PC security mistakes users make and the tips for avoiding the pitfalls.

1.   Using Weak Passwords

Passwords are the weakest link in cybersecurity. You can’t use your name, birth date, or other personally identifiable information and expect your accounts and data to be safe and secure. Potential hackers can quickly crack those combinations in password attacks.

Secure passwords are combinations of at least 12 varied characters, including upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

The best practice is to use complex phrases that hackers can’t guess. You can complicate them further by using truncated words or dropping vowels (e.g., “scrty” instead of “security”).

2.   Reusing Passwords Without Two-Factor Authentication

Reusing passwords can be detrimental to your PC security. Using the same password for multiple accounts puts all of them at risk because a potential cybercriminal only needs to crack a single password.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if you don’t want to remember multiple passwords, but we still recommend different credentials for every account.

Another excellent solution is a password manager. It can generate random, complex passwords for all your accounts, storing them in a secure vault.

You only need to remember the master password or PIN or use your fingerprint to enable the manager to log you into connected accounts.

3.   Avoiding or Disabling Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is an extra security layer every PC needs. It can prevent you from accessing malicious websites or downloading compromised files or apps, stopping malware programs in their tracks. Of course, antivirus might not be as helpful on certain occasions. For instance, such security programs can remove ransomware infections. However, users’ files will remain encrypted.

Many people don’t use it because they think it slows down their computers. That may have been the case decades ago, but the latest solutions require fewer resources when running scans, resulting in less CPU usage.

Other PC users temporarily disable their antivirus software to bypass its block regarding downloading specific apps or files. Hackers love those windows of opportunity to crawl into an unsecured system.

So, install reliable antivirus software, keep it up to date, and don’t disable it for a second.

4.   Ignoring Software Updates

Ignoring software updates is like disregarding a smoke detector’s alarm; you know there’s smoke, but the lack of fire means you’re probably safe.

The latest software updates feature bug fixes to improve performance and user experience and security patches to eliminate vulnerabilities and protect data.

Although there’s no actual fire, postponing or ignoring those updates leaves security holes that potential cybercriminals crawl into, and you might not hear any alarm until it’s too late.

5.   Disabling User Account Control on Windows

User Account Control (UAC) on Windows PCs is a fundamental security feature that prevents unauthorized changes to your computer.

Disabling it gives administrative access to all running apps, making it seamless for potential hackers to control your device. Keep it on, no matter how annoying the notifications may be.

6.   Clicking Suspicious links

Phishing emails are some of the most prevalent cybersecurity threats. They contain malicious links that initiate browser-based script attacks or install malware without the target realizing it.

Never click on an email attachment without checking the email address to verify it’s legitimate. Don’t click through if you don’t know the sender and beware of pop-ups recommending unsolicited antivirus software or other solutions; they typically contain malware.

7.   Plugging in an Unknown Flash Drive

Plugging an unknown flash drive into your computer could wreak havoc on your system. That portable device could contain a virus that spreads to your files and infects the entire network.

The same goes for inserting your flash drive into someone else’s PC.

They may not follow the latest security practices, so their compromised PC could infect your flash drive and computer.

8.   Using Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks may be convenient, but they’re far from secure. They’re typically unencrypted, leaving a backdoor open for cybercriminals to enter and access all connected devices.

An excellent solution is a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This tool creates an impenetrable bubble around your internet connection, transmitting data through an encrypted tunnel. A VPN for PC also replaces your IP address with one of its servers, making it impossible for hackers to target you.

Conclusion

Many PC users take cybersecurity protection lightly, making mistakes that often lead to dramatic consequences, including identity theft and fraud.

Don’t give cybercriminals the upper hand. Avoid the pitfalls above and dig deeper into the matter to learn how to keep your data privacy and security intact.

Every day, there’s another news report about some major corporation being hacked and millions of people’s personal information compromised. While it’s necessary to be aware of these threats, it’s also important to remember that hackers aren’t just targeting big businesses but also individuals. Smartphones are becoming increasingly popular targets for hackers since they contain so much personal information.

If you’re worried about your smartphone being hacked, you can do a few things to protect yourself.

Keep Your Operating System and Apps up to Date

Make sure that your operating system and all apps are up to date. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in older software versions. Guard.io digital security advises keeping everything on your phone up to date will make it much harder for them to get into your device.

Use a Secure Lock Screen

Many people use simple, easy-to-guess passwords for their lock screens, like “1234” or “1111.” But if a hacker gets past your lock screen, they could have access to all of your personal information. To make it harder for them to get in, use a longer password, including numbers, letters, and special characters. If your device offers fingerprint or facial recognition, use that instead.

Don’t Root or Jailbreak Your Phone

Rooting or jailbreaking your phone can give you access to many cool features, making it easier for hackers to get into your device. If you don’t need to root or jailbreak your phone, it’s best to avoid doing so. There’s a reason major phone corporations warn you not to.

Be Careful What You Click on or Download

One of the most common ways hackers get into people’s phones is by getting them to click on a malicious link or download a malicious app. If you’re not sure if something is safe, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid it.

Use a VPN

Virtual Private Network can help keep your data safe when using public Wi-Fi by encrypting it. This makes it much harder for hackers to intercept your data and use it for malicious purposes.

Don’t Store Sensitive Information on Your Device

If you don’t need to store sensitive information on your device, it’s best not to. This includes things like banking information, passwords, and personal photos. If you must store this kind of information on your phone, ensure that it’s well-protected with a password or PIN.

Avoid Public WI-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is one of the most common places for hackers to target people since it’s often unsecured. If you can, avoid using public Wi-Fi and use your data plan instead.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that can be used on many online accounts. It typically involves using a code that’s sent to your phone in addition to your password. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your account, even if they have your password.

Keep an Eye on Your Apps

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your apps’ permissions. If an app asks for permission to do something that doesn’t make sense, like access your camera or contacts, it could signify that it’s malicious.

Know What’s Happening on Your Device

Keep an eye on your device’s battery life, data usage, and storage. If you see anything that doesn’t seem right, it could signify that your phone has been hacked.

Back Up Your Data Regularly

If your phone is hacked, you could lose all your data. To protect yourself, make sure to back up your data regularly. This way, if your phone is ever hacked, you’ll be able to restore it from a backup.

Get a Security App

There are many different security apps available that can help to protect your phone from hackers. These apps can offer features like virus scanning, remote wiping, and more.

Use a Mobile Security Solution

Mobile security solutions like Lookout can help to keep your phone safe from hackers by offering features like malware scanning, lost device protection, and more.

Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in older software versions. Keeping everything up to date will make it much harder for them to get into your device.

In today’s world, there are not many fields in higher demand than cybersecurity. Job roles are available to people with a career in cybersecurity in many industries, ranging from banking industries and other businesses to government agencies. Since everything is digitized nowadays, organizations are ready to pay a lot to protect their information. 

If your interest is to limit cybercrime and keep organizations from hackers while you enjoy a lucrative career, then cybersecurity is your answer. Maybe due to your current job and other obligations you must meet, you don’t have enough time or funds to obtain a University degree in cybersecurity.

Worry no more. An associate cybersecurity degree can ease your way into this remarkable career. This article is written to uncover the significant advantages of cybersecurity associate degrees. 

What Is An Associate Degree?

You most certainly are familiar with BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. degrees. Perhaps you don’t know so much about associate degrees, especially if you are new to countries like Canada and USA.

Associate degrees can be obtained in University institutes, community colleges, affiliated colleges, and junior colleges. Like university degrees, associate degrees boost employment prospects compared to an ordinary secondary education level. 

Below are the benefits you can derive from cybersecurity associate degrees.

It Can Serve As A Foundation In Cybersecurity 

If you are a computer enthusiast and are considering a career in the IT sector, an associate degree in cybersecurity can be an excellent way to start. 

If you lack proficiency in cybersecurity, programming, and network frameworks, an easy way to get started is to take online banking courses to get familiar with the field and with the technology involved.

Then you can move up with a cybersecurity associate degree will ensure you are acquainted with basic cybersecurity procedures. 

During your two-year study for an associate degree in cybersecurity at one of the institutions above, you will be exposed to the foundational skills for more advanced degrees in the future. 

You will have technical skills such as software development, network security and cloud, IT administration, and cybersecurity. Personal skills you are likely to get are communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, and project management. 

Used as a roadmap for software engineering, cybersecurity associate degrees can also provide you with an excellent opportunity to continue undergraduate studies and advance your career. Plus, the knowledge gained from an associate degree can also be applied to other IT careers such as network administration and software development.

It Is A Perfect Option For Working Class Citizens

One of the beautiful things about junior colleges and community colleges is how they run their programs. They create a method that puts the busy schedules of their students (often referred to as non-traditional students) into consideration.

Unlike the typical students, students of community colleges are usually experienced either in their field of study or an entirely different one. They often have more responsibilities to shoulder than students looking to get a Bachelor’s degree.

Such responsibilities may include a full-time job, running a family, taking care of a relative, etc. A cybersecurity associate degree is your best bet to maintain a balance between your life obligations and a degree in the IT sector. 

The cybersecurity associate degree program offers you scheduling flexibility to facilitate your other responsibilities. Evening and online classes are available to allow you to run your other businesses during office hours. 

Furthermore, a cybersecurity associate degree enables you to meet an appropriate network of connections as employers troop in to recruit experienced personnel. You may as well meet the right person that your career needs to propel among your colleagues.

Cybersecurity Associate Degrees Are Cost-Effective 

Several profit-oriented organizations charge thousands of dollars to learn a particular training course in cybersecurity and even mandate it for students to complete payment before starting such training. 

There are some costly but worthy training programs that you can’t avoid as you advance in your cybersecurity career. However, due to the tax benefits and financial structure of the community colleges, they provide incredible value for the money their students pay. 

In addition, there is the availability of loans, scholarships, and grants that makes the payment for your cybersecurity associate degree program easy, which may not be enjoyed elsewhere. 

It is excellent information for anyone interested in cybersecurity who can’t afford to make a critical financial commitment. Considering this, you can visit a junior college and enroll in a cybersecurity associate degree program to give your career a good start it needs.

Cybersecurity Associate Degrees Makes Some Jobs Available For You

Obtaining academic credentials is a terrific way to get your first job. A cybersecurity associate degree can help you kick start your career in the IT sector. Assuming you are already in the industry, these degrees can help to earn a raise, be promoted, or help you in getting to your desired height in your field.

Though many jobs in cybersecurity may require a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree can also land you an entry-level position. 

Assuming your organization has no strong structure for dealing with security issues, your cybersecurity associate degree will probably give you the information and skills required to set up procedures that will guarantee the security of the organization’s digital assets.

Some examples of the job positions you can fit in with a cybersecurity associate degree are listed below.

• Data Analyst

• Data Scientist

• Information Security Engineer

• Network Administrator

• Security Specialists

Time Is Maximized

It is typical to complete an associate degree program within two years on a full-time basis. This period is long enough to learn what you need to become an entry-level cybersecurity specialist. 

Although you may not learn everything you need to know about cybersecurity within these two years, community degrees are structured to provide you with job placement. If a two-year program can give you that, I think it is worth the time and resources utilized. 

Get Equipped To Start Your Cybersecurity Career

As you have decided to start your cybersecurity career journey, it will be worthwhile to look into community college programs around you to get enrolled into one.

Junior college cybersecurity programs are often structures that aren’t easy to beat. The reasons behind that are not far-fetched as they possess the potential to minimize expenses while giving operational experience and a degree with adaptability choices later.

Regardless of the structure, your learning takes, it would help if you kept up to date with new advances in cybersecurity. Innovations and malware dangers continually spring up, so you should remain associated with the general security conversation. Do this and become an indispensable asset to every employer.

Are you worried about your organization’s exposure to digital risks? What about your personal exposure?

If you’re not, you should be, even if you feel you have a good handle on the basic principles of cyber security. That’s because digital threats abound. They’re all around us, whether we like it or not.
Take the ransomware attack that temporarily disrupted fuel supplies to the eastern United States. Or the third-party intrusions that resulted in massive data breaches at Target and Home Depot. Or the unauthorized data release that spewed millions of personal and corporate records held by international fiduciaries like Asiaciti Trust and a number of global law firms as well.

You’re not immune to these risks. But you can take measures to protect yourself before you become a victim. Let’s take a look at six things your firm and its security vendors can do right now to shore up your cyber security.

1. Restrict Who Can Access Sensitive Information

Less access isn’t always “better.” Your employees and contractors do need to be able to view and edit the data they need to do their jobs. Technical team members need access to backends, applications, and other sensitive areas of your digital footprint, as well.

But these individuals should only have access to the systems and data that are absolutely necessary for their job functions. They shouldn’t have more access than needed simply “because.” That’s a recipe for unauthorized data releases and makes it more difficult to determine who’s at fault for them.

2. Implement Strict Email Security Protocols

Email is inherently insecure. There’s a good reason you know not to send sensitive data like account numbers or passwords over unencrypted email. You don’t know who’s lurking out there, watching what you send.

As careful as you are to watch what you say in unencrypted emails, you can’t control what your employees and contractors do with emails they receive themselves. But you can clarify the consequences of carelessness with strict email security protocols warning against clicking links in emails, opening emails from unknown senders, and downloading any suspicious attachments.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication Whenever Possible

Two-factor authentication (2FA) makes it much harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to password-protected accounts. Not impossible, of course, but harder. 

Enable it for any company account that allows it; most enterprise software does at this point. If a particular system or process doesn’t yet use 2FA, look for an alternative, as the status quo leaves you vulnerable to compromise. 

4. Use Non-Invasive Employee Monitoring Tools

Remote employee monitoring is not necessarily invasive — not if you use the proper tools, at least. Which you should, especially in a tight labor market; nothing saps employee morale faster than the knowledge that their every keystroke is logged.

Look for tools that monitor “uptime” or “active time,” rather than the content of employee activities. Reserve more invasive methods for monitoring sensitive areas of your digital footprint, which should record login attempts and data transmissions anyway. 

Look for unusual patterns of activity, such as employee accounts active during the wee hours of the morning. These patterns can be suggestive of malicious insider activity.

5. Back Up Important Data Frequently

The best way to protect against data loss is to minimize the amount of data you can lose. Not by deleting files every day, of course, but by backing them up in multiple secure locations — both in the cloud and on physical storage media housed away from prying eyes.

The best practice is to back up data at least once daily, but twice a day is better. You never know when a ransomware attack will strike, after all.

6. Use Encrypted Email and File Sharing for Sensitive Documents

We’ve already explored the inherent insecurity of conventional email. The alternatives: encrypted email and direct file-sharing services. They’re free or cheap — though enterprises typically have to pay more per seat — and can support large file sizes. For really big transfers, you might need to use a thumb drive, but 95% of your data sharing needs can occur in the encrypted cloud.

Leave No Digital Stone Unturned

Shoring up your organization’s cyber security is not a “one and done” activity. It’s not even an occasional task that you can delegate to one or two people within your organization.

No. It’s a systemwide campaign that never really ends. Sure, a lot of the items on this list qualify as low-hanging fruit, where simple fixes can markedly improve preparedness. But even those fixes require constant attention.

If you’re not already doing so, it’s time to take your organization’s digital security seriously. It’s time to leave no stone unturned in your effort to ward off the bad guys.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is triggering the global fear of major cyber attacks, especially targeting the U.S. and European systems. Till now, there hasn’t been any major cyber attack outside the country’s borders, but there are very high chances of doing so. In fact, back in January, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published a CISA alert pointing out the threats to American infrastructure by Russian state-sponsored cybercrime.

Russia holds a strong history of deploying cyber attacks in Ukraine and other parts of the world. It is suspected to be involved in many of the major past cyber attacks, such as the attack that turned down Ukraine’s power grids in 2015 or cyber attacks in Georgia. Similarly, the Russian military is also accused internationally of the severe NotPetya malware attack back in June 2017. NotPetya attack was so intense and widespread that it targeted the Ukrainian government, energy, and financial sectors and caused billions of dollars in damages.

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both the government-backed hackers and other cybercriminals allied with Moscow have become active again in deploying new and damaging cyber attacks across the countries, targeting critical infrastructure and other most commonly used productivity tools. In fact, many cybercriminals in Russia tend to follow the government objectives in order to keep law parties away from them for some time. However, such cybercriminals mostly do not follow instructions properly and often go wild. For example, the ransom ware gang Conti made a statement that it will initiate attacks on the important infrastructure of anyone who launched cyber attacks or any other war activities against Russia. The Russian government is also known to keep a blind eye against major cybercrimes that are driven from its borders unless they also target any Russian assets.

There are many human rights groups and other organizations across the world that are somehow supporting Ukraine. So, the cybercriminals can make them their prime targets and can try to damage them as much as they could. Moreover, all the cyberattacks that initially target Ukraine can end up becoming massive cyber weapons.

Digital Attacks on Ukraine Before War

Even before the Russian invasion, there were many digital attacks carried out on Ukrainian. For example, the Ukrainian government, state service, and foreign ministry websites went down even before the Russian invasion started.

Some of the recent cyber activities reported include:

• 70+ Ukrainian government websites are spoiled in cyber attacks. Websites of the education ministry, foreign ministry, agriculture, energy, and sports ministries, and similar other Ukrainian government websites are hit by cyber attacks.
• Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) has detected proof of destructive malware operations that are targeting Ukrainian organizations.
• As per Forbes, right after the conflict started, the suspected cyber-attacks sourced from Russia observed an increase of over 800% in a 48-hour period.
• Russia is anticipated to have hacked Viasat, a US satellite communications provider, right at the invasion day.
• Recently, the national internet provider of Ukraine, Ukrtelecom, has confirmed a cyber attack, as its connectivity collapsed to 13% of pre-war levels.

In short, there is no doubt in accepting the fact that cyberattacks are on the rise ever since the invasion begin and things are not looking to get better soon.

How to Remain Protected from Cyber Attacks in Present Threats?

The current cyber threats, the warnings around them, and the fear of devastating outcomes are all meant to create uncertainty and worry. But the right strategy is to be aggressive instead of being worried. If you set up proper cybersecurity protection measures with up-to-date intelligence, then you can minimize the impact of becoming a victim of any cyberattack. But the question is what cybersecurity measures are effective in the present scenario?

Every organization has different digital needs and connectivity approaches, so the cybersecurity measures also vary accordingly. However, some of the common cybersecurity practices that almost all organization need today are as follow:

• Patching: Patching stands as one of the most vital security measures that can drastically enhance overall security. Software or operating systems mostly release the patch of any bug or issue they detect and request their users to patch the software asap. Cybercriminals often tend to exploit such loopholes, so it is vital to patch the systems regularly and keep your software/OS updated with new security features.
• Identify and Fix IT Black Holes: Every organization has its set of black holes in IT infrastructure that act as open doors for attackers. Therefore, you should ensure robust monitoring of the environment carried out by experienced professionals so that all such black holes can be fixed on time.
• Enhance your Current Cyber Infrastructure: You should look into your current cybersecurity infrastructure and try to enhance it by following best practices of vulnerability and configuration management, protective controls and architecture, identity and access management, etc.
• Prepare your Response: Despite comprehensive cybersecurity measures, there are still chances of becoming a victim of any cyberattack. Therefore, you should also have a proper response plan in place that you can execute right away once you detect the attack. The plan should include how to restore the system and data, how to isolate the malware from the system, how to remove malware, how to minimize downtime, etc.

Wrapping Up

It is not easy to forecast what’s the future of the Russia/Ukraine conflicts. However, one thing we know is that cybercriminals have come active in deploying damaging attacks on Ukrainian organizations and then elevating those attacks across other parts of the world. The recent cyberattacks on Ukrainian government websites and other organizations is a proof that things are getting worse gradually.

The ideal approach in this situation is to first keep yourself up-to-date with all the cyber-related news. Secondly, you should enforce all the cybersecurity measures that deem important for your organization. Overall, there is no such thing as full-proof cybersecurity, but you can minimize the chances of becoming a victim of ransomware and cyberattacks to a great extent with the right cyber strategies in place.

Following the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal, the way that businesses handle our data has come under intense scrutiny in the last few years. Now, some of the biggest names in tech are taking steps to improve customer confidence and ensure that data privacy is a priority. According to CNBC, Google has just announced that it plans to buy cybersecurity firm Mandiant for $5.4 billion. Should the deal go through, Mandiant will focus on increasing security for customer data stored on Google’s Cloud.

The Google/Mandiant acquisition is the second-largest ever for the search engine, topped only by their purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2012. But Google isn’t the only tech giant focusing on increasing data security, this trend is being picked up by other big names too.

Microsoft Closes The Gap 

Microsoft is investing heavily in data security and has recently announced that they’ll be establishing their biggest-yet data center in India over the next few years. The center will be spread across three sites in Hyderabad and will deliver advanced Cloud solutions and data security to individuals, start-ups, and major enterprises. It will also offer its security services to government and educational institutions globally. The development will be Microsoft’s largest investment in data security to date. 

The Microsoft Azure brand has been in the news recently after a critical bug in Azure Automation was discovered. A serious security flaw compromised customer data and identity information and put individuals and huge conglomerates and financial institutions at risk. The bug had been fixed in December 2021, but there was still an insecure endpoint that was a potential issue. In being transparent about how they manage and look after customers’ data Azure is building trust, proving that no one is infallible and that they’re prepared to take the necessary steps to improve their security.

Amazon and QuintessenceLabs Take Action

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has always assured customers that they look after their data, and they put their money where their mouth is by launching Data Exchange for APIs. The new APIs allow for AWS-native authentication and governance and make the transfer of information safer as they continually update integrated datasets. A virtual data exchange API requires state-of-the-art security to keep all information it shares secure, and AWS aims to do this by ensuring that updates are applied automatically in real-time, as information changes. 

Quantum cybersecurity leader QuintessenceLabs is also making great strides in data protection and privacy. They’ve recently raised additional funding to develop their quantum-safe solutions that offer support to communities globally. Yahoo reports that QLabs will be focusing on delivering advanced cybersecurity solutions to an international customer base that deals with large volumes of consumer and corporate data.

With such big names emphasizing the importance of data security and taking steps to improve their offerings there’s a chance that future cyber attacks won’t have as much of an impact. If the tech giants keep investing in thwarting sophisticated cyberattacks there’s a better chance that everyone’s data – from individual to global conglomerate – will remain protected and uncompromised.

Online fraud is one of the most comprehensive tools in the cybercriminals’ arsenal, and for very good reasons. With the unprecedented quantity, sophistication, severity, and breadth of cyber attacks taking place at present, there is, as a result, an enormous amount of online fraud taking place. 

It is well-known around the world that online fraud is a top cyber threat. But, online fraud is certainly nothing new. Just like any other cybercrime, it is a global activity, well known by authorities and security specialists, that has been relentlessly perpetuated by cybercriminals and cybercriminal groups for a long time now. 

For one, cybercriminals (criminals operating online) are always looking for the most efficient ROI or Return on Investment. This means that the tactics they choose to use are always tuned for maximum gains with the least amount of resources spent and with as minimal effort as possible. These gains can be; personal financial gains for the cybercriminal, collection of confidential information, or part of an operation by a nation-state. These operations can also span across several campaigns, and with the help of several actors across the globe 

For these reasons and more, online fraud is hugely popular in the cybercriminal community and hugely successful to boot. Also, the statistics on online fraud show everything there is to tell. In 2017 alone, according to an FBI report, a loss of around $1.5 billion was served to victims of online fraud.

However, online fraud is a very general, very large umbrella term that includes several types of cybercrime that are based on social engineering scams and other crimes. When all of them are put together, the amount is a far cry from just a few billion in damage to the economy. Hundred of billions in losses hit the economy every year in total where fraud is concerned. As far as cybercrime in general, it is shocking that this figure just scratches the surface. 

All together, cybercrime costs the economy trillions of dollars, and the worst part about it is that most organizations are unprepared for cybercrime. Adding to that, most internet users are clueless about cybersecurity.

This is why it is important to understand what online fraud is, how nations deal with online fraud, and finally the best steps to take to limit the risk of online fraud as much as possible.

What is Online Fraud?

Online fraud is differentiated from theft, as it does not involve a direct breach or theft operation, but relies on deception, tricks, and social engineering tactics to lure victims into willingly handing over sensitive information that benefits the cybercriminals orchestrating the act.

There are several types of cybercrime that fall under the category of online fraud, ranging from small-time crook operations to large-scale campaigns. To put this topic into perspective concerning just how diverse the online fraud landscape is, some good examples are; 

• Social engineering tactics such as phishing, smishing, vishing, and others
• Website spoofing
• Direct identity theft
• Chargeback fraud
• Card testing fraud
• Marketplace fraud
• Catfishing scams
• Auction scams
• Stolen credit card scams
• Lottery scams
• Bitcoin scams
• Charity scams
• Employment scams

Online fraud is definitely not limited to the above and will grow and get more creative as the industry and technology progresses.

How Nations Are Dealing With Online Fraud

The way online fraud is dealt with differs greatly between countries. Also, the way online fraud targets and affects a nation varies a lot. Naturally, cybercriminals want to hit developing nations where they can steal money, identities or conduct other long-ranging scams as efficiently as possible. This means that highly developed countries with a large population are always a default target.

Nations such as the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands are examples of developed nations that are hit hard by online fraud such as identity theft. 

As far as email phishing scams go, which are the most popular method of online fraud today (as well as the easiest to orchestrate) the list is as follows; the U.S., the UK, Australia, Japan, Spain, France, and finally Germany. These are the nations where thousands of phishing scams are successfully carried out. 

The most impersonated brands out there that online fraudsters spoof to lure victims into traps are; Microsoft, DHL, LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, and Paypal.

As far as dealing with online fraud, some nations are better at it than others. Statistics show that (via an NCSI score) Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan do well in terms of fighting cybercrime and online fraud. On the other hand, New Zealand, France, and The United States are at the bottom of the list when it comes to the ratio of being hit by cybercrime versus how effective the nation is at fighting against it.

An important aspect of this is how the government of a nation reacts towards cybercrime and online fraud. In that aspect, Japan, the Netherlands, and Germany are the most successful and focused on spreading awareness and stopping these acts. 

There are several laws, regulations, and frameworks in place that improve information security and aim to spread awareness about online fraud. Some of these are; regulations like the GDPR, NIST, CISA, the UK ICO, the European Anti-Fraud Office, and many others. Law enforcement agencies, like the FBI and EUROPOL, also battle online fraud every day.

How to Fight Against Online Fraud

Protection against online fraud begins at the user level because most online fraud can be avoided with a bit of care which means reducing human error to a minimum. As simple as it sounds, applying this to a population of over 4 billion connected people across over 30 billion devices and thousands of organizations is a gargantuan, seemingly impossible task.

What can be done is at the user level, and the employee education level. Primarily this means awareness education and training when it comes to phishing. Secondly, this is about understanding password hygiene and internet best practices. Finally, it is about understanding that oversharing information on social media can also lead to online fraud.

Cybercrime is on the rise because so many of us spend all of our time working and shopping and interacting online. Cybercrime is becoming more sophisticated than ever and simple malware protection is not enough anymore to keep your computer and your data safe when you are online. Many people are not truly aware of the many kinds of cybercrime techniques that can be used to get access to people’s accounts and identity and this is often the root of successful attacks that people say they never saw coming.

If you work or shop or spend a lot of time online, you need to be aware of the various kinds of cybercrime attacks that you could fall prey to. Being aware of the kinds of attacks that you might be exposed to can make all of the difference in protecting your personal information while you are online.

If you are looking for more information about cybercrime techniques and how to avoid them, you need to read on!

Common Cybercrime Techniques and How to Avoid Them

1. Social Engineering

Social engineering attacks are one of the most difficult to manage cybercrime attacks. These attacks are malicious activities that are done through personal interactions. This kind of attack usually uses psychological manipulation that makes people give out sensitive information that hackers are trying to gain access to. This is a common technique that is used against people who are older or who are not aware of these kinds of attacks.

You can protect yourself from these kinds of attacks by being aware that businesses and other official entities will not try to gain your password, social security information, or other sensitive information. These are the usual red flags that will indicate that this contact is not normal and should be ended immediately.

2. Phishing Scams

This is one of the most common cybercrime attack methods. This kind of attack works by causing fear or a sense of urgency in someone which leads them to click on an infected link or interact with a landing page that is not actually for the company that is supposedly reaching out to them. These are often emails and they can be quite cleverly crafted to look official and like they can be trusted.

This is an easy kind of scam to avoid because if you hover your mouse over the link in question it will not be the right link for the company that supposedly reached out to you. Phishing is easy to avoid if you always assume that any email that you receive could include content that you do not want to interact with. Look for signs that are obvious like glaring misspellings or grammar that does not make sense and hold your mouse over any links in the email without clicking. This will make sure that you identify a threatening email and delete it before a hacker gains access to your data.

3. Spoofing

This is a more involved cybercrime that involves making a website that looks like the real one and then deceiving people into interacting with it in an effort to resolve an account problem or pay a bill. Some of these fake sites are very convincing and can look a lot like the actual site in question. This site can be used to spread malware, get your credit card information, or your password.

You can avoid spoofing by paying attention to the link that is at the top of the page when you navigate to a site. If the link does not connect to the name of the company and is not the official website link, do not click anything that is on the spoofed page. 

You will want to be wary of any kind of contact that sends you to a page that requires a lot of personal information as well. It might be legitimate, but you should know what the normal landing page for a company you do business with looks like. Inserting any kind of sensitive data into a new kind of landing page that you have not seen before is always a bad idea.

4. Ransomware

Ransomware is often successful when you have failed to keep your network security up to date or have not been using a VPN to access your work network. This kind of attack can also succeed if you have been allowing websites to store your personal login information and personal data. You can avoid this kind of attack by backing up your data and being sure that you do not allow websites to store your login credentials and other information. You can also make sure that you use a VPN for any kind of work that you are doing where you need to access another network.

While this is a threat that is more commonly directed at businesses, you can fall prey to it as an individual as well. This kind of attack involves a hacker gaining access to your network and then locking your personal or company data so that you cannot access it. You will then be asked to pay a ransom to get your data back. This can be very expensive for companies and individuals alike and it can cause data theft that can lead to major issues for other people as well as yourself.

Preventing Cybercrime is Easier Than you Think

If you have always thought that there was nothing that could be done to prevent your personal data or network from being hacked, this list of tips and tricks will help you to avoid common kinds of cybercrime and keep your personal data safe and secure. 

You can easily avoid falling prey to common kinds of cyber-attack if you are familiar with the ways that these attacks are postured. Adding effective security to your home network and making sure to run updates on software can also make a big difference in the safety of your network.

Caring for your personal data when you are working or shopping and engaging with others online is easy if you use these best practices.

Using a computer system, device or any machine with an operating system that stores sensitive data without the proper cybersecurity tools watching your back can undoubtedly result in the complete compromise of that system. Such is the state of the connected realm nowadays. This is why it has become practically obligatory to ensure that you have these tools installed, and especially the correct and verified ones at that. A cyber breach can have devastating consequences, and especially when it comes to modern-day cybercrime it is the primary priority of governments all over the world to curb cybercrime. The most common mistake is thinking that it cannot happen to you, but simply entering your email addresses for a quick check on websites such as haveibeenpwned.com will most likely show you otherwise. You can also perform a slightly more in-depth scan on a website such as dehashed.com for a wider range of information and possible search queries relating to whether your personal information has been hacked in the past.

Since we live in 2021, almost all data and transactions out there that are critical to our daily lives have been digitized. As the world moves to innovative new standards and technologies, the requirement that everything is connected is now set in stone. This also pertains to our habits and how we are now used to storing our data on our computers, smartphones, and other devices without much afterthought. The issue is that all of these devices are susceptible to data breaches and remember, cybercriminals have no mercy. At least 40% of businesses report data breaches every year, the cost of which can be millions of dollars for a single breach. By 2025, the annual cost of financial damages incurred by cybercrime such as phishing and ransomware is estimated to exceed $10 trillion. Annual reports coming from cybersecurity tool vendors such as antivirus and antimalware makers reveal that increasingly sophisticated malicious tools are being detected, especially those of the polymorphic type (with the ability to mutate and escape detection.) Statistics also indicate that cybercriminal extortion and blackmail have resulted in a peaking of ransom payments since 2020.

With these worrying findings in mind, it is time to take cybersecurity into our hands to avoid our data being stolen, corrupted, or compromised and, ultimately, to protect our safety and the safety of our families and friends from cyber threats.

What Types of Cyber Threats Are There Out There?

There are countless types of cyber threats out there, that vary in design and purpose e.g. which attack surface they are directed at and via which attack vector/method they will be orchestrated. Some of the most common cyber threats that both organizations and the common citizen can fall victim to include;

• Ransomware
• Phishing
• Viruses
• Trojans
• Worms
• Keyloggers
• Cryptojacking
• DDoS attacks
• MiTM Attacks

Cyber threats can cause many frightful scenarios with varying degrees of severity, from website downtime, data that is taken for ransom, to the destruction of sensitive data which can easily result in the erasure of a company. Cybercrime is even strong enough to bring the world’s most cutting-edge government defense to its knees. As more and more data is online, the opportunity for cybercriminals grows exponentially.

What Are Cybersecurity Tools?

Cybersecurity is a sector dedicated to the protection (security) of data and systems (cyber) from cyber threats (hackers and other threats.) Vendors that work in this sector offer familiar products and services that are indispensable to all of us, like; antivirus software, antimalware software, anonymization solutions, password protection, and on a greater and more modern scale complete managed security solutions. Cybersecurity for home use differs greatly in scope from enterprise cybersecurity which protects much larger systems and enormous amounts of data, but in essence, the purpose is the same.

Which Cybersecurity Tools Are Indispensable For The Home User?

There are several types of cybersecurity tools and solutions that you should be making use of daily if you value the security, integrity, and stability of your data (not to mention your personal safety.) A lot of these tools have already been available for more than a decade, but some have recently been popularized due to increasing digital safety demands from the economy. The most important ones to keep account of are;

• Antivirus software
• Antimalware software
• Virtual Private Networks
• Encrypted Password Managers
• Specialized Firewalls
• Security and privacy-focused web browsers

Including the batch of cybersecurity tools above on your devices (laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other), as well as knowing how to use them, will give you a satisfactory entry-level security blanket from most modern cyber threats. Here is why you need them;

• An antivirus software serves to protect your devices from classical harmful viruses, as well as prevent them from infecting your devices
• Like antivirus software, antimalware programs focus on scanning, identifying, and removing malicious software but refer to a different library of threats  
• A Virtual Private Network is a network anonymization tool that can cloak your physical location by modifying your IP address and encrypting your connection from all sides
• A password manager is a unified solution where you can keep all of your passwords under lock and key
• A specialized firewall is more advanced than default firewalls and offers more security features
• Specialized web browsers will reduce fingerprinting, ads, tracking and also are designed under better ethical and moral standards than mainstream browsers

Nobody wants their personal security compromised via an email phishing scheme, their data taken for ransom by advanced cybercriminals, their systems riddled with destabilizing malware, or their business websites compromised by brute force attacks. For this reason, it is important to have a basic level of security and an understanding of the usage of cybersecurity tools. The cherry on top would be an additional level of security via common-sense information security best practices, such as; using long and unique passwords for each account or service (and keeping them private), avoiding unsecured websites, avoiding public wifi, practicing offline data backups, and avoiding interaction with emails from suspicious or unknown senders.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the online community has seen a surge of audience, especially the streaming platforms like Netflix. According to Forbes, Netflix saw 1.54 million new global subscribers in the second quarter of 2020. Unfortunately, a certain rise also came in online scams and frauds. 

The scammers came up with ways to trick online users into giving their credit card information. At this point, we cannot stop the scammers, but we can get educated. This is why we share with you the Netflix scams and how to avoid them. 

This guide will include some of the lessons learned from past mistakes and remedies to dodge them. One best way to do so is to have a Netflix specialized VPN that secures your streaming experience. Let’s start with understanding these Netflix scams as follows:

The “Free Pass” scam:

This is a type of scam that circulates on social media as a “free lottery” “fake prize/sweepstake”. In mid of 2020, it was reported that many users received an e-mail saying “Due to the Coronavirus pandemic worldwide, Netflix is giving some free passes for their platform during the period of isolation.

Run on the site because it will end quickly!” with a link attached under it. Many people clicked the link and are redirected to share it further with 10 of their friends to avail the free pass (even after doing so, it does not happen).

One major red flag in such e-mails is the grammar. In this e-mail, sentences like “Run on-site” are concerning, especially if it’s a global giant like Netflix. Another red flag is the sender’s e-mail and the link URL. Just because it has ‘Netflix’ written in it, does not mean it is legit. By sharing with friends, scammers collect your information and personal data. 

The “Account suspension” scam

During the pandemic, it’d be a nightmare to have your Netflix account suspended. This is how the scammers play on the sense of urgency. In this type of scam, people receive an e-mail with the subject line “Your account suspension notification” and the body reads “We are unable to validate your billing information for the next billing month of your subscription. Therefore, we will suspend your membership within 48 hours. Update your account details to avoid cancellation”. 

The call-to-action button is a big “update account now button”. This scam was also found active back in the 2019 “Game of Thrones” season 8 premiere. In this situation, the signs of a scam include punctuation, super urgent deadline, and e-mail address.

How to avoid Netflix scams?

If you have encountered any such e-mails or phishing messages, you need to act on them to make sure it doesn’t spread further. If we look at Netflix’s terms of service, we will find a lot of clauses that can help us detect the scam faster. Here are some of the precautionary points to note:

• Netflix does not use a 3^rd party app for credit card payment. If you are being redirected to another website, back out ASAP
• Netflix never collects personal information through e-mail or text, not even the username, and password.
• Netflix URLs have Netflix.com at the start. If it is a long unrecognizable URL, it is risky to click. 
• Awful grammar mistakes
• Sense of urgency that pushes you to start ASAP

In this list, some points can be a conflict of interest. For example, genuine e-mail marketers give a sense of urgency to their customers. It should not be mistaken as a scam. However, no e-mail marketers collect sensitive information on e-mail so we’re good. 

Not only do we avoid this scam, but it is also our responsibility to report it to the proper authorities. Whenever you receive such an e-mail, take a screenshot, and forward it to phishing@netflix.com. That way, Netflix can act against such scammers and fraudsters. 

There is a possibility that you may have clicked and done as the scammers wanted you to. There are some remedial things to do to survive.

• Change your Netflix password in case the scam URL asked for it
• Change your bank account password and details in case it has acquired your credit card information
• Log out from all signed-in devices and sign back in afterward with the new password
• Report the fraudulent activity to phishing@netflix.com. 
• Regularly update your Netflix password and make it complex (but not too complex that it becomes forgettable). 

Conclusion

The online market will continue to see growth and it is our joint responsibility to make the internet a safer place. Lately, e-mail services like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft are making a stronger effort in reducing internet scams. Even so, we must stay educated on differentiating between a genuine e-mail and a scam. Hope this guide will help!  

Cyberattacks are becoming more common and more dangerous. With the world in lockdown, many companies have resorted to working remotely and allowing their employees to use their devices and their own internet to get their work done.

However, the majority of people do not have a full understanding of the true dangers they may face when they work remotely or use their devices online. This makes it much easier for hackers to target them to commit their crimes.

Cyberattacks can sometimes be difficult to identify. However, it is important for your own safety, and the safety of those around you to be able to identify a cyberattack and take the necessary steps to protect your devices from them.

What Are the Signs of a Cyberattack?

Identifying cyberattacks can be extremely difficult. This is because most modern-day cyberattacks can go undetected and under the radar. If you are not prepared for it, it will be unexpected and it can cause you a lot of headaches.

Moreover, if you do not know that your devices have been attacked, you could be putting those around you at risk as well. Cybercriminals can use your devices to break into those that you are in contact with as well.

The first sign of a cyberattack is that you might notice some files going missing, or even some new files appearing on your device. Many viruses are programmed to destroy or remove files from your device, and this can be a clear sign that your device has been infected.

Some malicious software will make new files show up on your device. These are used as a trigger to get the victim to click on the files and inspect them. Oftentimes these files act as a trigger to install viruses, spyware or ransomware as soon as you click on them.

Files going missing or appearing on your devices can also be a sign of spyware being installed on your device. Spyware will allow a hacker to remotely control your device, even when you are not using it. They can use this software to delete your files or download new ones.

Another sign that you have been the victim of a cyberattack is if your personal or work files are suddenly encrypted or inaccessible, meaning that no one will be able to open the files. This is often done by ransomware which is used to encrypt files until a ransom fee is paid to the hacker.

You may also notice that your device becomes significantly slower and begins to lag more often if it has been infected with a virus. In some cases you may also experience your device freezing, crashing or restarting on its own.

If your accounts have been compromised you may notice fraudulent transactions taking place on your bank account, passwords being changed or even emails or messages being delivered that you have never sent.

If you pick up on any of these signs you should take immediate action before it’s too late. If you have no cybersecurity measures in place, you need to be taking a close look at the section below to see the best cybersecurity tools you need to use.

What You Should Do in the Case of a Cyberattack

If you have experienced a cyberattack, the chances are that it’s too late and your device has already been compromised. It can be difficult to identify which parts of your device have been compromised by the hacker, so it is best to take all the necessary steps.

The first thing you need to do is change your passwords. You should start with your most important accounts such as your banking and email. Doing so will keep the cybercriminal out of your important accounts. 

However, you may want to use a different device to do this in case your main device has been infected with spyware, which will allow the cybercriminal to see your new passwords and still break into your accounts.

You will also need to start setting up your cybersecurity measures. This is vital to keeping your devices secure and preventing any further cyberattacks. Below we will discuss the best cybersecurity tools for you to use.

How to Prevent a Cyberattack

Preventing a cyberattack comes down to using the correct cybersecurity tools. There are many different ones to choose from, however, there are three crucial ones that you must use if you want to keep your devices secure.

With any of the following software, it is important to use reputable developers who are well known. Cybercriminals use fake cybersecurity software, also known as rogue software, to break into people’s devices. You must do thorough research on any software you want to install on your device and find several different reviews from multiple sources.

Rogue software is a new form of cybercrime that allows criminals to easily break into people’s devices since they are willingly installing software that they believe will protect their devices. Instead, they are putting themselves more at risk, and cybercriminals will be able to install malicious software onto their devices.

The first tool you need to get is antivirus software. This will help you even if your device has already been compromised. Antivirus software will constantly scan your device for any malicious software and it can take the necessary steps to remove it from your device.

Another tool you need to use is VPN software. A VPN is capable of encrypting your internet connection, which means that no one will be able to see what you are doing on your device, and they won’t be able to snoop through your files. VPN software will also allow you to change the location of your IP address by connecting to one of several different global servers.

To keep your accounts as secure as possible, you must ensure that you use strong and unique passwords. However, this means that your passwords are difficult to keep track of. The solution is to use a third-party password manager. Password managers will keep all of your passwords safe and allow you to access them securely. You should avoid using the default browser’s password manager as these are not secure and can easily be breached by a cybercriminal, in which case all of your accounts will be at risk.

For people who use a proxy provider, rotating proxies offer a higher level of service. A rotating proxy shuffles your ID with a new one now and then, which blocks your online identity. Having your proxy automatically change enhances both performance and security.

Not all proxy providers are equal. So take time and effort when you buy a rotating proxy to choose the best service.

Today, we’ll show you why you should only buy rotating proxy services from the best proxy provider.

Ample IP Addresses

A dedicated proxy means website owners can easily track you visiting their website. For example, if you visit the same page multiple times per day, it may expose your interest in that product or service.  But maybe you have a different reason to visit the page.  A rotating proxy allows you to be anonymous when you repeatedly view a website.

Buying a rotating proxy service from the best proxy provider can offer you a pool of IP addresses. As a result, you can avoid being banned. Also, anyone who is tracking your online activities can’t reveal your actual IP address. And this is something that an average proxy provider can’t provide.

To Gain Competitive Edge

If you own a business, using a rotating proxy can allow you to monitor your competitors. Then, you can sign up for service or download their trials to test them out. And you can do that with the same niche without getting blocked. As a result, you can gain a competitive edge.

If you’re buying something online, the prices might vary across different regions. A rotating proxy from a designated region can help you get the best deal to save the most money.

Achieve Increased Conversion Rates

A regular proxy service provider offers only a single IP address.  Over time, you become known to the target website.  As you move through the pages, the tracking on that website will identify your activity.  With a rotating proxy, you can freely get as much or as little information as you need.

Staying on a page for a prolonged period might make the owner suspicious. You might even get blocked by the owner and can’t come back to the site anymore. But, you have to research their content and keywords, which needs a lot of time.

Improved Security

Security is more critical now than ever.  Nearly all website tracking is IP-based.  Every website is tracking every move you make through their site and recording it forever. So if your IP is changing, you can bypass the most common forms of tracking.  This means you see all the web pages fresh, treating you like a new customer.

But for the best security, your IP address needs to be frequently shuffled. Therefore, if you buy a rotating proxy from a good proxy provider, they can guarantee you to cut your chances of getting exposed. For these reasons, you need to choose the proxy provider very wisely.

The security of your proxy relies on the provider you pick. A reputable provider will hold the security of your business in high esteem.

Ending Notes

Your IP address is enough to get your information exposed to the outer world. Choosing the best rotating proxy service provider is critical for your daily internet browsing.