Each of us has a responsibility to raise awareness of the Internet so that we can protect ourselves online
Cyber theft is nothing new-but in 2021, cyber crime has reached a whole new level.Since we all spent more time at home (and therefore more time online), Avast tracked Everything from ransomware to cryptocurrency scams to phishing is increasing.
Phishing attack It is a popular way for criminals to access personal information, using social engineering to persuade people to hand over their credentials, bank information, and even send money directly to scammers. From June 2021 to October 2021, Avast researchers pointed out that the risk of companies being phished increased by 40%, and the risk of individuals being phished increased by 20%.In one case, cybercriminals used the increase in online shopping during the pandemic to Infect people’s devices with malware called FluBot Through a fake shipping tracking application.
But a phishing attack is just a way, a compelling way to make you vulnerable online. Worried about your network security? Here are five tips to stay safe online.
1. Don’t click on the link
With FluBot, scammers can plant malware on the victim’s computer by sending a link that appears to come from a legitimate courier service (such as FedEx or UPS). When people click on the link, they are instructed to download software to track their package-this is how they obtain malware.
As more and more companies turn to SMS messaging to make time before our distracted eyes, so do scammers. As a general rule, do not click on any link sent to you—whether via SMS, other messaging services, or even your email—without first checking with the person or company from which the message came through a different and trusted medium.
So, for example, if you want to track a package? Visit fedex.com and enter your tracking number directly there.Or if you get a urgent Your boss’ email? Ping them on Slack or send them a quick text to make sure it is really them. This may be a bit annoying, but trust us: it is much less of a reason for your company being hacked.
2. Use VPN to protect yourself
Think incognito mode is protecting you Tracked by the Internet? Think again.The incognito or “private” mode is designed to keep your browsing history private from anyone trying to access your computer from your computer. So if you don’t want your kids to know which websites you’re visiting, that’s great, but if you don’t want Facebook, Google, your boss, or the government to know what you’re doing online, it’s not so great. .
For this, you need a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer and the Internet. Imagine a tunnel through the air between you and the server. You can see what you send; your server can see what you send; but no one else can see inside the tunnel. Using a VPN means that any information you send or receive over the Internet is protected from being seen by anyone who shouldn’t have a peek at what you are doing.
VPNs have always been great, but you must use a VPN when you connect via free Wi-Fi—for example, at an airport or coffee shop—because these networks are often particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals.
3. Use reliable DNS
Because computers cannot “speak” English (or Chinese, Arabic, Swahili, or any other human language), they need to be translated.That is a Domain Name System (DNS) Come in: DNS translates your human language into numbers, which is the “language” in which the computer “speaks”.
So, for example, when you type “facebook.com” in the bar at the top of the screen, your computer will access DNS, and DNS will return a series of numbers so that your computer can take you to Facebook.
However, the hijacked DNS can send back false information, leading you to the hacked version of the site you are trying to access. For example, if you want to access your bank account, but your DNS has been hijacked, you will be redirected to a similar site-and you won’t know the difference. You will enter your bank information as usual, just to allow this information (and possibly all your money) to be stolen.
But how do you know if the DNS used by your computer is reliable?Most of us don’t – that’s why you need software to ensure you if only Is sent to a reliable DNS and no One was hijacked.
4. Update your software
One of the most important things you can do is to update the software regularly to keep yourself safe online. Software updates—from the applications you use every day to the operating system on your computer or phone—usually accompany large and small security updates. However, if you do not download the update, your device will be attacked from these security vulnerabilities.
Think of it this way: What happens if someone makes an announcement on Facebook that they will not lock all their windows during a three-week vacation? Most likely, thieves in the area will break in and ransack everything they have.
A notification about a security breach is similar to a Facebook message, but it attracts the attention of cybercriminals rather than TV thieves. If you don’t “lock your windows” (that is, update your applications and systems), they will come to pay for you.
5. Use a password manager
For example, if you become a victim of the phishing attack we discussed above, how secure are your remaining accounts? What if you use the same password for multiple sites? Not very safe. This is why it is necessary to create a unique password for each login name and each website.
But who has the memory to keep track of all this? Of course not me.That is Password manager come in. The password manager is a secure vault where you can store every password. You only need to remember a master password to access any login information you need. They will also generate a random password for you, which can be a combination of letters and numbers, or unrelated words.
If you want to create a password yourself without the help of a password generator, it is better to use three completely unrelated words-for example, zebra-auto-house-or use a similar tool Our random password generator, Which will provide you with truly random character combinations that make up a more secure password.
The Internet is great-but it is also dangerous. Each of us has a responsibility to raise awareness of the Internet so that we can protect ourselves online. Follow these tips and you have a good start.
