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 For example, exploring twitter archive is used to create access to your outdated tweets and information.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?
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.
