We’ve never been more digitally connected, being in touch with the world around us has made us more vulnerable to hacks, data breaches, and identity theft.
Being safe, well informed and secure are probably your only defensive methods
When you hear and read about the range of cybercrimes out there, you might be tempted to stop using the internet entirely. That’s probably too drastic a measure.
You might want to learn to prevent cybercrime, but here’s the thing: YOU CANNOT. YOU CAN, however, take precautions to help protect against it.
Here are my 4 tips you can use to help protect yourself against the range of cybercrimes out there.
1)Beware of online requests for personal information.
A coronavirus-themed email that seeks personal information like your Social Security number or login information is a phishing scam. Never respond to the email with your personal data.
2) Avoid requests that insist you act immediately
Clicking on malicious links opens computers, phones to hackers worldwide. For example, the link might take you to a fake bank website which looks very legitimate but in reality is just a lookalike.
3) Watch out for spelling mistakes in email addresses or links
Look for writing systems or grammatical errors in domain names or email addresses. Cyber criminals commonly use email addresses that correspond to the names of well-known firms. For example, [email protected] instead of [email protected] (“l” instead of “i”).
4) Be suspicious of generic greetings
We live in an era of supersonic communication. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t keep an eye on the messages you receive. Pay attention to your email as the scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.
While the internet is a wonderful tool and has become an imperceptible part of our lives, there’s a lot out there that could cause serious trouble. The flip side is cybercrime and sadly, it is on the rise.
The best thing to do is to be prepared. Follow these simple rules, use your common sense and act smart.
Shaunak Mody, Co-founder at Tixter cyber solutions.
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