Top Threats to Cybersecurity
Cyberthreats, cyberattacks, and cybercrime are exploding right now. These attacks, from retail hacks to identity theft, are dominating the news cycle. In order to fix the mess made by identity thieves, fraud victims typically lose 20 hours and spend $776 of their own money. The seven ongoing threats that demonstrate the current difficulties in protecting your data are listed below.
Retail Data Hacks
Because they can affect virtually anyone, retail data hacks pose a serious threat. Attacks on large businesses like Target were on the rise in 2014, with hackers stealing 40 million credit and debit card numbers from customers. This personal information is taken by cybercriminals and sold on the black market, which can easily result in identity theft. Keeping a close eye on your bank account and credit card statement is a good way to stay safe during retail attacks, despite the fact that the retailer bears much of the responsibility, such as maintaining the security of their payment methods.
Threats to Smartphone Security and Vulnerabilities in Mobile
Devices Cybercriminals have easy access to vulnerabilities in mobile devices, which they can use to access private data. These flaws may originate in your smartphone or in the applications you use. Malware that has the ability to take screenshots and record keystrokes can also infect mobile phones. Be careful about what emails you open, what pictures you upload, and the apps you download to protect yourself.
Attacks of phishing and social engineering
Phishing is the term used by cybercriminals to trick people into divulging private information like passwords and social security numbers. When a person receives an email that purports to be from a bank or government agency and is subsequently enticed to authentic-looking websites, this is one of the most common forms of phishing. The individual is required to enter their password, social security numbers, and financial information once they get there.
This information is taken by cybercriminals and used for their own purposes. Phishing is a subset of the larger issue known as social engineering, which involves, in essence, manipulating one's emotions in order to gain access to private information. Avoid falling for these ruses. Be skeptical of any and all emails, especially those that ask you to re-enter personal information. Keep in mind that legitimate banks and government agencies will never ask you to verify any potentially private information.
Theft of Identity
Identity theft is one of the online crimes that is growing the fastest. Identity theft, phishing emails, and data breaches are all possible outcomes of many of the topics discussed earlier in this article. However, everyday items like your resume, home address, photos and videos from social media, financial information, and so on also put your identity in jeopardy. Identity thieves will open credit cards and loan accounts in your name after stealing your personal information. There are still a lot of things you can do to protect your identity, even though some of this is out of the ordinary person's control.
Hacks for Healthcare Data
78.8 million people were impacted by Anthem's massive data breach by hackers in early 2015.Hackers entered the UCLA Health System's computer network in July 2015, potentially gaining access to 4.5 million patients' personal information. Healthcare records are prime targets for cybercriminals because they contain sensitive and important information and can easily lead to identity theft. This information is frequently utilized for health insurance fraud, such as the purchase and sale of counterfeit prescriptions. Keep an eye on the news for any reports of data breaches in the healthcare industry.
Sexual predators vying for children's attention
People who want to take advantage of children lurk in shadowy parts of the internet to trade lewd photos of children that are illegal. Email, peer-to-peer programs, and, increasingly, the dark web—a part of the internet that standard search engines can't get to—are all ways to accomplish this. Although these are troubling trends, it is in the public's best interest to leave these websites to law enforcement personnel and to completely avoid them.
Sexual predators who send or request lewd, pornographic images, as well as those who attempt to entice children into offline relationships, are another online threat. Make sure your children are well-versed in the dangers of online conversation and that they should never share personal information with strangers.
Banks being hacked
The robbery of banks has gone digital in the 21st century. A well-known instance is when a gang of criminals stole up to one billion dollars from a number of financial institutions around the world in about two years. Emails were used by cybercriminals to send malware with the name "Carbanak" to bank employees and officials. The cybercriminals were able to successfully imitate the employees' behavior, transfer money to themselves, direct ATMs to dispense money at specific times, and use e-payment systems to filter money after successfully infecting the targeted computers. A major attack on the banking system, according to some experts like Ben Lawsky, could be compared to a "cyber 9/11."Before choosing a bank, always investigate the bank's security record, shred financial documents, and consistently monitor your account for any irregularities.
What can you do to safeguard yourself in the face of cyberthreats that are constantly evolving? The first line of defense is security consciousness. While powerful security tools are available to assist, you must also use common sense to safeguard your computer, information, and self.
