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Cybercrime – we assume it can’t happen to us until it does. While you may think you are safe online, cybercriminals prove otherwise: according to Cybersecurity Ventures, by 2021, cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion yearly.
Large companies and big celebrities aren't the only ones under threat – as long as you’re using the internet, your private data is vulnerable to all kinds of cybersecurity threats. Read on and take precautionary measures to protect yourself from cybercriminals.
Cyber attacks begin with a phishing scam.
Fake emails are sent out by scammers every day.
Although being one of the oldest cyber threats, phishing is still the most commonly occurring attack, usually done through email, social media, ads, or fake sites. The goal can be anything from tricking you into giving up your personal and financial information, sending money, or infecting your device with malware.
Phishing campaigns are often highly targeted and believable, with the attackers pretending to be your bank, credit card company, or other familiar organization.
Cyber attacks begin with a phishing scam.
Reuse passwords across their online accounts.
Despite all the warnings by cybersecurity experts and repeated massive data breaches, many people prefer short and simple passwords, such as ‘123456’ or ‘password.’ Easy to remember, even easier for hackers to guess.
But what’s worse than using a weak password? Using the same password everywhere. If a hacker cracks that password, they can easily log in to all the accounts that use the same password.
hotspots in the world don’t use encryption.
Love free public Wi-Fi? So do cybercriminals. Most public Wi-Fi networks feature poor security, which makes it extremely easy for hackers to harvest personal data of their victims.
If a cybercriminal is monitoring the Wi-Fi network you are using (man-in-the-middle), they can observe your communications and steal sensitive information, such as login names, passwords, or credit card details. Doesn't sound like fun, does it?
of online fraud is carried out through mobile devices.
You use your phone for everything from texting to social media to shopping, managing finances, and checking work emails. No wonder mobile security threats are on the rise, with cybercriminals increasingly attacking smartphones with credential theft, scammy ads and malware hiding in popular apps.
If you’re lucky, a fraudulent app might only affect the performance of your device. If you aren’t, it can be used by malicious hackers to spy on you and steal your sensitive information without your knowledge.
of IoT devices are vulnerable to hacking.
Home security cameras account for 47% of the most hacked devices.
Although IoTs are convenient, they also come with risks. Many of the internet-connected devices we own — from smartwatches to home assistants and smart TVs — have little to no security, meaning that almost anyone can remotely access and control them.
So does it mean that your vacuum cleaner is spying on you? Probably not, but your IP camera might be. According to research, home security camera systems represent almost half of the IoT devices that are compromised by hackers, followed by smart hubs, network-attached storage devices (NAT), smart TVs, and printers.
Do you really need that smart toothbrush?
Think twice about the risks of the internet-connected gadgets before purchasing them.
Protect your IoT.
Change the default password as soon as you bring your new device home.
Be cautious on public Wi-Fi.
If the network is left unprotected, chances are some cybercriminal is lurking there to steal your sensitive information.
Don’t reuse your passwords.
If a cybercriminal cracks one password, they can access all your online accounts.
Use 2FA wherever possible.
It will add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
Think before you click.
Be extra careful clicking links and opening email attachments from unknown senders.
Take care of your software.
Don’t ignore updates, invest in a good antivirus, install spam filters, and use privacy browser extensions.
Secure your internet connection.
A reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) will help you protect all the information you access and share using your devices.
NordVPN cybersecurity blog.
NordVPN secures your data with top-tier encryption. Neither ISPs nor third-party snoopers can read it, even if they manage to intercept it.
The advanced CyberSec feature blocks suspicious websites so that no malware or other cyber threats can infect your device.
We don’t keep logs of what you do online. That’s your business. Even if someone asks us about you, we’ll have nothing to share.
