If you’re considering a career in crime, you should know that now is a great time to be a cybercriminal. With more and more people using the internet to work and shop from home, there are more victims to target. There is more data to steal. That means there is more money to be made.
Cybersecurity is often framed as a matter of keeping up with the rapid evolution of online attacks. That means patching software vulnerabilities and identifying new malware programs. But the cybercriminal’s most decisive adaptation in recent years has little to do with their technical tools. Rather, they are focused on a new business model.
Contents
- 1 You’re the Perfect Target
- 1.1 Identity Theft
- 1.2 Remote Access Fraud
- 1.3 Phishing Scams
- 1.4 Tax Scams
- 1.5 How to Protect Yourself Against Fraudsters
- 1.6 2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication.
- 1.7 3. Be cyber-savvy.
- 1.8 4. Manage your physical mail carefully.
- 1.9 5. Be cautious when giving out personal information on the phone.
- 1.10 6. Keep your devices updated.
- 1.11 A Few Simple Precautions Go a Long Way
You’re the Perfect Target
Instead of victimizing companies, they now mostly target individuals. They have started selling stolen data back to its original private owners. That means anyone who goes online can become a target.
That said, people now have to deal with a constantly-evolving set of cyber threats and fraud schemes. We’ve compiled a list of the most common internet scams and fraud strategies below. While this it’s not an exhaustive list, it should provide a solid backgrounder for some of the tactics cybercriminals use nowadays.
Identity Theft
If your personal information falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to steal your identity. Identity theft is among the most disruptive of all cybercrimes. For example, it may result in a criminal using your identity to access the funds in your bank account or insurance policy.
Identity theft often involves criminals piecing your personal data together from a variety of compromised sources. You may not even realize your identity has been stolen until you start losing money.
But there are warning signs. Mail you are expecting never arrives. You get calls following-up on products and services you have never used. You may also notice unusual mail in your inbox.
Remote Access Fraud
Remote access scam schemes prey on peoples’ fear, greed, or lack of technological understanding to impair their judgement. This makes people more likely to commit the grave error of giving a scammer access to their device.
These scams often begin with a phone call. Someone contacts you and requests that you download software or an application that shares access to your device. The fraudster might tell you someone’s hacked your system, or they may offer a free upgrade or device optimization. Once they’re granted access, they can then see the contents of your computer or mobile device and perform actions. They might also urge you to sign into online accounts or convince you to perform transactions. This lets them steal your passwords or funds.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams trick you into revealing information such as passwords, account and identification details, or credit card numbers. They may also fool you into downloading malware that tracks your online activity and steals passwords or login credentials.
Scammers manipulate you into believing they represent a trusted organization such as Microsoft, a bank, or a government agency. They then trick you into opening an email, instant message, or text message. Sometimes the phishing attack is made by an automated voice call or a pop-up while you’re browsing the internet.
Tax Scams
Tax scams are run much the same way. These types of scams involve someone claiming to be from the tax office or another government agency. They threaten you with arrest or legal action to pressure you into handing over your money or personal details. Scammers often conduct these scams by phone.
How to Protect Yourself Against Fraudsters
With the rise of social media and online shopping networks, people are making more personal information available to strangers online. This makes the protection of valuable data all the more necessary. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to protect yourself and your personal information from criminals.
Here are six foolproof ways to protect yourself from today’s high-tech scammers.
1. Use strong passwords.
Strong passwords are the most common way to protect your online identity. When creating a password, choose something that will not be easily decoded. Never use a word or number that someone can associate with you such as a first, middle, or last name, or birth date.
Mix up the letters and numbers used in your password and use symbols and a combination of upper and lowercase letters numbers when possible.
2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication.
Security experts recommend using multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing your key systems and accounts. MFA adds an extra layer of protection for your sensitive personal information. Instead of just using a username and password to log into your account, you also need to provide extra information. This usually comes in the form of a unique code from your mobile phone.
3. Be cyber-savvy.
Learning how to spot and report scam e-mails is among the best ways to protect yourself against online criminals. For example, phishing emails often have misspellings.
Often, too, you can tell scam emails are not from the organization they claim just by looking at the sender’s email address. Don’t just look at the header address, though. Expand the header, or hover over it, and look for unusual domain names. Whatever you do, don’t click the links!
4. Manage your physical mail carefully.
Use a secure letterbox or a PO Box and report any missing mail to the relevant authorities. Do not throw out financial documents or bills in the bin with the rest of the household rubbish. These communications often contain personal and financial information. Shred them or have them securely destroyed. Consider receiving your bill and account statements online when possible.
5. Be cautious when giving out personal information on the phone.
Be careful when receiving phone calls or emails claiming to be from a reputable organization. Consider what the caller is asking for and why the information is necessary.
Does what the caller is saying sound right? Is this the type of information an organization would require over the phone? Are they pressuring you into providing it? Whatever you do, never give a caller remote access to your computer or device.
6. Keep your devices updated.
Cybercriminals often take advantage of security holes in outdated software. This is why updating your software is a critical component of cyber security. Make sure all your devices, operating systems, security software, and applications are current and set to auto-update.
A Few Simple Precautions Go a Long Way
In the past decade, data breaches and password leaks have struck Facebook, Home Depot, Sony, Yahoo, and countless others. If you have online accounts, hackers have likely leaked data from at least one of them.
You can protect yourself by making a few simple changes to your accounts and online habits. You can also protect your privacy from those who would share that information without your consent. Getting started is easy. The steps we’ve outlined above should provide a solid foundation for your online security strategy.
