Can a Cybercriminal Monitor Your Screen Remotely?
Dec 20, 2021
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Spyware is one of the oldest forms of malicious software. However, this does not make it any less dangerous than other forms of malicious software. It’s still important for you to be able to identify spyware to be able to protect your device from it.
Cybercriminals can use spyware to monitor your device. This poses a risk to your privacy and security, especially if your device is not properly equipped with the correct cybersecurity measures.
Cybercriminals will be able to steal your data and use it to commit several crimes against you. This can cause serious damage, especially if you’re unprepared. If you’re worried about the damage that spyware can cause to your device and you would like to find out which cybersecurity measures you need to have in place, read on to find out.
What Does Spyware do?
Spyware is one of several types of malware, also known as malicious software. Cybercriminals use malicious software to infiltrate your device, gather data about you or cause damage to your devices.
Spyware can be extremely dangerous as it allows a hacker to monitor your data. This means that they are able to track what you do while you’re online. They can keep track of your browser history, login credentials and even the information you enter into your browser.
For example, cybercriminals could use spyware to get hold of your physical address, personal details or even your banking details. Not only is this a serious breach of privacy, but they can also use any of this information to commit damaging crimes against you.
If you’re unaware of what a cybercriminal can do with any of the above information you could be caught off guard. This would make it difficult for you to take the necessary action to repair the damage that they have done.
Spyware can be installed on your device through several different methods. The first is phishing scams. Phishing scams are emails that are sent to your inbox by cybercriminals posing as a company that you might know and trust. The email will urge the user to interact with the attachments or links within the email. However, once you interact with either of these, spyware can be installed on your device.
Another method that cybercriminals use to install spyware on a victim’s device is simply through malicious links that have been put up online. Links can be hidden as images, icons or even pop up ads. As soon as an internet user clicks on one of these links, the spyware will be downloaded and installed on their device.
What Can Cybercriminals do With Stolen Information?
Once a cybercriminal is able to get hold of your personal information they can commit several damaging crimes against you. The severity of the crime depends on the type of information they are able to extract from your device.
For example, if they were to get hold of your banking details they can use it to open fraudulent accounts. If they can get hold of your internet banking login credentials they will be able to transfer money or approve fraudulent transactions.
You might think that personal information such as your physical address won’t be of much use to a cybercriminal. However, they can use this information to their advantage by selling it on the dark web for example. Basic information such as login credentials, personal details and physical addresses can be sold on the dark web for large amounts of money.
Hackers will be able to open accounts in your name if they are able to get hold of the right information. For example, they could open a utility account. If the account is never paid, you will be the one who lands in hot water since the account is in your name.
Furthermore, if a cybercriminal is able to keep track of your internet traffic they will be able to pinpoint which websites you visit most often. This opens the door for them to use more convincing phishing emails against you.
Phishing emails have developed significantly in the past few years, and cybercriminals will use social engineering to trick their victims into interacting with the links or attachments in these emails. For example, a phishing scam might replicate an email from Netflix. The victim is more likely to interact with this email because it’s a company that they know and trust.
How Can You Protect Your Devices?
Spyware can be difficult to spot, which makes it an extremely dangerous form of malware. A cybercriminal may be watching your every move without you even knowing about it. It's a scary thought, however, there are ways that we can protect ourselves against this invasion of privacy and security. You must ensure that you have the correct cybersecurity tools in place to prevent spyware from residing on your device without your knowledge.
The most important cybersecurity tool you need is premium antivirus software. Antivirus software will constantly scan your device for any malware, not just spyware. Once the malware has been discovered on your device, the antivirus can also take the necessary steps to remove it from your device. Furthermore, antivirus software is also able to warn you of any suspicious websites that you might be visiting. This warning is helpful as we don’t always pay attention to the smaller details, such as the lack of an HTTPS protocol in the URL of a website.
You must ensure that your antivirus software is always kept up to date. Software updates are regularly sent out to fix any potential flaws that have been discovered in the antivirus software. Updates are also used to add extra layers of defence against new tactics that have been developed by cybercriminals to bypass the antivirus.
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