Cyber threats as ghosts: Learn to spot them
3 min read
They come in different forms and they’re definitely spooky in all seasons. Awareness is the first step towards security, so let’s look into each ghostly threat one by one.
Web Trackers: The obsessive ghost of an ad for sneakers you viewed but didn’t buy
What’s the most persistent ad following you right now? There’s probably more than one. Thank trackers – when you browse the web, they make sure you won’t go unnoticed. Unless you’re using a tracker blocker, your moves will almost certainly be tracked.
The reality of today’s internet is that websites are loaded with third-party trackers collecting data about your interactions. This data forms your digital profile, which can be pretty obscure – let’s say, limited to your obsession with white running sneakers. It can also be shockingly detailed – revealing your age, health concerns, political views, and financial situation.
Annoying ads are not the worst thing. What’s worse is that you can’t know what data is collected about you, whether it is stored securely, and with whom it’s shared. That’s why using NordVPN’s ad blocker feature is always a good idea.
Web Malware: The ghost of the internet’s dark alleys
No matter how seasoned an internet user you are, there’s always a chance of accidentally ending up in a dark alley of the web – a dangerous website made to cause damage. It may be a part of a phishing scam trying to trick you into giving away your private info, or it may host malware waiting to infect your device.
File Malware: The ghost of a shapeshifting email attachment lurking for a hasty click to infect your device
Clicking on an email attachment or downloading a file might cause security havoc if the file happens to be malicious. It can do severe damage to you and your device – from wrecking your system and data to facilitating cybercriminals in their attempts in luring out your personal info and money.
Malicious Ads: The ad ghost promising you money-saving deals but giving malware instead
Flashy pop-ups, auto-play videos, colorful banners – ads are everywhere you turn. They distract you from the content you came for, stalk you from website to website, make websites load slower. Some ads can do more than that: malvertising can infect your device with malware or direct you to malicious websites designed to steal your data.
Clicking on a malicious ad is an obvious risk. But sometimes, it’s enough to visit a website that contains a malicious ad. Advanced malvertising can automatically initiate a malware download or redirect you to a new page where you’ll be forced to connect to the attacker’s server. And here’s a catch: attackers even manage to place malvertising on popular websites you trust.
To protect yourself from the threats of malware, start using Threat Protection Pro, NordVPN’s powerful cybersecurity feature. This system provides malware protection, warning you away from dangerous websites, limiting the risks of malware and virus infection, and improving your overall security levels.