Staying online means being constantly on your toes. If you can’t live a minute without your smartphone, follow basic data security principles to safeguard cellular devices and confidential data from cybercrimes and data leakage.
Cybercriminals have been applying tech support scams to trick users into solving “problems” with their devices or software for years. Due to sophisticated social engineering methods, scammers easily manage to breach data security, tricking users out of their money or confidential information.
According to a Microsoft study in 2023, 60% of users internationally experienced technical support fraud throughout the year. At the same time, 1 out of 6 users was a scam victim, which often resulted in cash loss and mental health decline.
Among the problems that the fraudsters allegedly offer to solve may be the need to renew the license, computer virus, hacking of the mail account, or Internet banking.
For instance, attackers can convince the victim that due to the hacking of his Internet banking, he urgently needs to transfer funds to another account. Later on, scammers ask for access to remote device management and to open virtual currency accounts to transfer funds from the victim’s bank account.
In this case, if you are an active user of social media, it is advised to use the option of archive. For example, exploring twitter archive is used to create access to your outdated tweets and information. It is valuable to know that you can request all of your tweets from Twitter to value memorable moments without extra hassle.
How not to become a victim of data security fraud?
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Experts in data security recommend following these practices for safe usage of the Internet space.
- Don’t respond to suspicious messages or call numbers listed in unknown emails. If in doubt, search for the company mentioned and call the number from the official website to verify the information.
- If you see a pop-up or error message that includes a phone number on your computer screen, don’t rush to call it. It may be a harmful spam message.
- Don’t trust anyone who calls and tells you about your PC issues. Such sensitive information needs to be verified.
- Don’t give remote access to your device to strangers calling on behalf of technology or any other companies without checking the information first.
- Don’t take quick and hasty actions, as it is scammers who usually resort to intimidation to cause panic in the victim.
- Use a robust security solution on all devices to protect against malicious ads and dangerous sites that are fraudulent tools.
- Download applications from verified developers only. In addition, read the reviews of other users, especially paying attention to negative comments.
- Update your operating system and every application regularly to fix vulnerabilities.
Why is it advised to stay away from the complimentary Wi-Fi zone?
Free access to the Internet is gradually turning from a luxury into an everyday reality. We look for Wi-Fi spots wherever we stay for at least a couple of minutes: in the subway, in cafes, or government agencies. However, the price for convenience is the risk of compromising your data security by falling victim to a cyber-villain hiding under the guise of a harmless Wi-Fi network. It is essential to analyze what exactly to be wary of and how to find a balance between comfort and safety.
Let’s say you are staying at the airport transfer zone and using your free Wi-Fi network to the utmost. However, it is advised not to trust complimentary Wi-Fi in public places. You might wonder why. The answer is that most of these public networks have very few security measures, which means that other users of the same network can easily access your activities and data, and then easily steal money from your bank card. Therefore, sometimes it is better to wait until you are at home or use mobile Internet instead.
It is common knowledge that up-to-date devices strive to make life easier for the user and connect to open or already familiar networks automatically; in many systems, this option is even enabled by default. Unfortunately, this is convenient not only for you but also for cybercriminals. For instance, they will only need to create a fake network called “McDonalds_WiFi_Free”, and, when it is nearby, your phone will not notice the substitution and connect to this network without your knowledge. As a result, your valuable gadget can pick up malware or send your password straight into the hands of those who love other people’s data.
What social media activity should be avoided at all costs?
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Social media platforms can often jeopardize data security, exposing private photos or valuable information about your loved ones. As a rule, criminals are always looking for personal or financial information that can be used to obtain funds or open virtual accounts in the victim’s name. In addition, cybercriminals can use personal data to crack passwords and steal social network accounts.
The same applies to the distribution of personal data of your loved ones, which can be used against them. Remember that in most cases, all published information remains on the Internet forever. So before posting any personal details, even seemingly innocent ones like a pet’s name or date of birth, weigh all possible risks. Some social media users choose to delete all information about themselves online. In the situation with Twitter, the mass delete tweets option perfectly fits those who would like to erase all their tweets without any hassle.
Publishing a photo or a post with details about an upcoming vacation can endanger not only the safety of social networks but also the home and belongings of the owner during his absence. That is why if you want to share your impressions of a certain event or trip, it is better to do it afterward. As well, pictures of expensive jewelry or a brand-new car can make you a potential target for burglars looking to rob or steal. Therefore, try not to share information about any new purchases or gifts for your safety.
How can I update my operating system on time?
Hackers never sleep. Moreover, they are always trying to find out what’s wrong with your operating system. Undoubtedly, it is the most essential software that runs on your PC. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems or software to compromise data security by inserting malicious code. Fortunately, software developers will soon discover such gaps, they will be revealed. That’s why regular updates of the operating system are of utmost importance for the security of your website.
Unfortunately, people often get used to certain things and categorically do not want to change them. According to the analytical company NetMarketShare, the share of the outdated operating system Windows 7, which was released in 2009, is almost 25%. Experts warn that using such an OS is extremely unsafe for any type of device.
In today’s reality, timely OS updates are just as necessary as personal hygiene, or having a PIN code and password to log in to your email. Daily, a computer running Windows 7 is becoming more and more vulnerable. Although Windows 10, to put it mildly, is not ideal, it is an up-to-date OS, which is supported by the developer, promptly responding to all cyber threats that constantly ariseю With your outdated OS, you are exposed to incomparable risk.
It is stated that users do not update operating systems on their devices for several reasons: firstly, many users do not fully realize the importance of regular updates. Secondly, they do not like their online activity to be interrupted. Thirdly, some users consciously do not want changes. Let’s keep in mind that OS and software updates can alternate the familiar interface, which users are not always happy about. And finally, not all devices can support new versions.
Four levels of IT threats
Experts recommend that enterprises create a separate budget item for regularly improving the security of their IT infrastructure. By taking effective measures to prevent possible cyberattacks, a company guarantees 100% security in public networks. This applies to financial institutions, credit firms, commercial enterprises, and government organizations.
In total, there exist four main levels of IT threats:
- high risk with great damage (for protection, you need to constantly create backups);
- high risk with little damage (minor consequences of such attacks);
- low risk with great damage (to protect your activities, it is recommended to purchase insurance);
- low risk with little damage (such threats remain virtually unnoticed).
Around 87% of survived internal attacks are associated with uncontrolled information leakage, installation of questionable vulnerable programs, and unauthorized actions of company employees.
Conclusions
To sum it up, the rapid development of computing and information technology requires a rapid strengthening of security measures concerning systems for the transmission, storage, and processing of information. This happens because digital technologies are increasingly penetrating everyday life, making many areas of human activity, the normal functioning of organizations, and entire sectors of the economy dependent on the normal functioning of some information systems and applications. It should be noted that at present, the security problem has not only not been finally resolved, but in entire industries, such as the Internet of Things, there is no common understanding of how to organize data protection.
Thus, from a highly technical field, data security is increasingly becoming a creative discipline, where it is necessary to develop a unique and at the same time working solution to a problem of data security while taking into consideration a personalized approach and the unique needs of each user in particular.
