Cybercrime
0 likes192 views
Protect Yourself From Cybercrime The document discusses common cybercrimes like phishing scams and malware infections, and provides tips to avoid becoming a victim. Phishing scams involve receiving fake emails that try to steal personal information through fraudulent websites. Malware infections can damage computers or steal passwords. Simple precautions like using antivirus software, only downloading attachments from known senders, and being wary of suspicious emails can help protect personal information and devices from cybercrime.
Cybercrime
- 1. Protect Yourself From Cybercrime We’re pretty dependent on technology these days – not only for communication, but also for financial transactions. A lot of us do our shopping and banking online. This is very convenient, but it means we’re more vulnerable to cybercrime. The good news is that you can protect yourself by taking a few simple precautions. vulnerable = open to being attacked One of the most common cybercrimes out there is called phishing. The victim receives an official-looking email that seems like it comes from a legitimate source – like a bank, a store, or a government institution. The subject line of the email will try to scare you – for example, it might say that there’s a problem with your account, or that they need to confirm some details or else you’ll lose your account. legitimate = real, can be trusted The email contains links that appear to go to a website where you can sort things out. But instead of going to the real bank’s or company’s website, the links lead to an imitation website. It might even have a deceptively similar address. If you don’t notice you’re on a fake site, you would fill in sensitive information like your credit card number or password – and when you do, the data is sent to the bad guys.
- 2. If you get a message that something’s wrong with your bank account, the best thing to do is to open a new window and go directly to your bank’s website – type the address yourself. You can also call the bank or visit personally to find out if there’s really an issue. This simple step will prevent your personal information from being stolen. Another way that cybercrime can affect you is if your computer gets a virus or “malware” (that’s malicious software). Some viruses can erase your files or make your computer run slowly. Others track your typing so they can discover your passwords. You can keep your computer virus-free by using a bit of common sense. Never install programs from websites that look like they weren’t made by legitimate companies. Don’t download email attachments from senders you don’t know. If a friend sends you a message that seems out of character, it’s possible that their computer may have been hacked. Finally, install anti-virus software that can monitor and protect your computer. out of character = not normal, considering their personality hacked = when a computer system is invaded by criminals A more subtle form of cybercrime is called “social engineering.” The criminals do research on you by using the information you’ve posted
- 3. online. They want to find details like your birthday, where you were born, anniversary date, spouse’s or children’s names, etc. spouse = husband or wife They can then use this to steal your identity – such as by calling your bank pretending to be you and claiming to have lost the password for your online account. To prevent this, set your social media profiles to “private,” only accept friend requests from people you know, and try to minimize the amount of personal stuff you share online. You don’t have to be paranoid about cybercrime, but it’s best to be aware so you can avoid becoming a victim. If something seems fishy, listen to your instincts. It’s better to be safe than sorry. paranoid = excessively worried fishy = suspicious instincts = your deep basic feelings