Home » News » Security basics » Know your enemy - Cybercrime

Know your enemy - Cybercrime

By Bryan on December 22, 2011 | Security basics, how to keep safe, protect from viruses Know your enemy - Cybercrime

Sometimes it may seem so far, yet in reality it is so close. Moreover, you might be suffering from cyber criminals right this moment without realizing it. And it does not only come down which sites did you visit, or emails you open – nowadays even Apple's Mac's are attacked which has never been  seen before. The point is that there are thousands of ways to get infected as there are thousands of ways  to help yourself stay protected – it is all about knowing your enemy. 

So, first of all, what it is? Cybercrime is usually known as Online Identity Theft comes in many forms. The most common ones are viruses, malware but the great thing is that they are the easiest to keep safe from. However, recent study conducted in 24 countries shows that everyday there is at least  million people on the net that suffer from various types of cybercrime; it  means that 860 people are affected every minute. This, based on 2011 Norton Cyber Crime Report, costs to people as well as government over $388 billion in financial as well as time losses. 

Cyber criminals use “phishing” - set up websites, send email and use other means to search for victims, communicate with them and retrieve any personal or financial information. There are often links included with phishing which are packed with viruses and spyware – a criminal's tools for infiltrating your system and stealing information. 

How to fight back? First and foremost, open emails and respond the communications you trust 100%. Otherwise, try not to not open any unknown emails or click any links if you do not know where lead to. Also, do not give out any of your personal information unless you know that the site is safe. Below there is a list of some of the most important information you have. You should protect it as criminals value these things the most. 

• Social security number
• Credit card number
• Bank account number
• Driver's license number
• Health security information 

So,  before giving your name, address or any other piece of information, especially out of the ones that are listed above - always think twice. What is more, always keep your operating system, security programs such as anti-viruses and anti-spyware up to date. Always use unique passwords that are case sensitive, have numbers and different symbols in them because a lot of people still use passwords like 'abc123' which are very easy to guess.   

Also, if you use internet to download games, screen-savers, etc. always check these files with your anti-virus software before you open them as they are often filled with backdoor viruses and Trojans. Although, try to use only trusted sites as even anti-virus software may miss some spyware programs. Often check your bank accounts. If you notice any unexpected changes contact your bank as soon as possible. 

So, these are the main point of how to stay safe on the net. As you can see, this is pretty basic stuff – all you need most of the time is to use your common sense, visit only trusted sites and open letters only from people you know. Inevitably, one day you will catch a virus but with these tips you can try to minimize the damage.

More Security basics news

Protect your Facebook logins on Apple and Android devices!

Protect your Facebook logins on Apple and Android devices!

Facebook credentials are being vulnerable and are accessible from Apple and Android devices because they aren't protected very well and can be reached to other applications and USB connections.All credentials can be obtained by rogue program or via USB connections because data on mobile devices aren't encrypted and left in a temporary folder which can be read by malicious programs. Read more.


News categories

Latest news

Related news