Is Cybercrime Becoming More Common?
Dec 20, 2021
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In our modern society it has become the norm to spend several hours each day on some form of device. Whether it’s on a laptop, smartphone or even a tablet, screen time has risen significantly in the past few years.
This has increased even further because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns around the world. Statistics show that 70% of internet users were using their smartphones more often as a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak.
However, cybercrimes such as ransomware, are on the rise because more people are spending time online. This means that more damage is being done than ever before. If your devices are not protected you could be at risk of a cyberattack. Read on to find out how to keep your devices secure.
How Can Cybercriminals Breach Your Devices?
Cybercriminals have developed new methods to breach your devices. It is important to understand what these methods are and how they work to be able to protect your devices from cyberattacks.
The first method that cybercriminals use to break into people’s devices is phishing scams. Phishing has been around for several years, however, it has developed significantly in recent years to become more effective at luring individuals into falling for the traps that have been set up for them.
Phishing scams involve cybercriminals sending fraudulent emails to potential victims. The emails will either contain attachments or links and will urge the victim to interact with them. Attachments can install malicious software, also known as malware on your device if you interact with them. Links can take you to malicious websites that are able to install malware on your device or steal your login credentials and, in some cases even your banking details.
Hackers will use social engineering by setting up their emails to look like it has been sent from a reputable company that the victim knows and trusts. This makes the victim more likely to interact with the email and get caught out.
One example of a popular phishing scam is where victims receive an email from Netflix. The email has been set up using the Netflix logo and colour scheme which makes it replicate what a real Netflix email would look like. The email states that the user’s account will be suspended if they do not update their billing information. The users are then told that they can follow a link in the email to update their billing information. However, the link will take you to a fake website that has been set up by the cybercriminal to replicate the Netflix website. The website will have a keylogger installed which will track everything that is typed into the web page and give it straight to the hacker.
Cybercriminals can also install malware on your device through pop up ads and links found online. These links could be hidden as images which would make them less suspicious. Once you click on a malicious link the malware will be installed on your device. However it will be installed in the background, which means that you might never know about it being on your device if you do not have the right cybersecurity precautions in place.
What Crimes Can Cybercriminals Commit?
Once a cybercriminal has breached one of your devices they have several options in terms of the crimes that they can commit. You must be aware of these crimes so that you know what steps you can take if you fall victim to them.
Hackers can commit fraud and theft if they are able to breach your accounts through phishing. This can range from sending fraudulent emails from your account or even approving fraudulent transactions from your bank accounts.
In some cases, cybercriminals will steal your personal information and use it to commit identity theft. This would allow them to open accounts in your name. For example they might open a utility account, and when it is never paid you will be the one who lands in hot water for it.
Hackers will also be able to sell your information on the dark web to other cybercriminals. Basic information such as physical addresses or even email login credentials can sell for huge amounts of money as it will allow other cybercriminals to commit crimes against you.
One of the most dangerous crimes that can be committed by a cybercriminal is installing ransomware on their victim’s device. Ransomware is the most dangerous form of malware and it is estimated that a ransomware attack happens every 11 seconds. Ransomware will encrypt your important files or accounts which will prevent you from accessing or moving them. The only way to remove the encryption is to pay the ransom fee to the cybercriminal. A single ransomware attack can cause up to $170,000 in damage on average, so this is the last situation you would want to be in..
How to Protect Your Devices
Keeping your devices secure is the key to preventing cyberattacks. There are two crucial cybersecurity tools you must have installed on your devices to ensure that they are properly protected from cybercrimes.
The first cybersecurity tool you need is premium antivirus software. Antivirus software will constantly scan your device for any malware. If malware is found on your device, the antivirus can take the necessary action to have it removed.
You must ensure that your antivirus software is always kept up to date otherwise you risk falling victim to a cyberattack. Software updates are often sent out to fix any flaws that have been discovered in the antivirus software. Updates will also sometimes add an extra layer of defence against any new tactics that have been developed by cybercriminals to bypass the antivirus software.
The other important cybersecurity tool you need to install on your device is a premium VPN. A VPN is able to mask your location and what you do online by encrypting your internet connection and connecting you to one of several global servers. This will prevent a cybercriminal from snooping through your data and pinpointing your location.
You must ensure that you use a premium VPN as opposed to a free one as these have several drawbacks that will be detrimental to your online privacy and security. Free VPNs often have slower connection speeds, daily data limits and a limited selection of global servers that you can choose to connect to.
Tags: English