Cybercrime is undoubtedly one of the most significant problems that have evolved over the last ten years, and millions of people become cybercrime victims annually. Therefore, knowing which kind of misinformation is most frequent in the security field and where we can fall is essential. In this article, we will outline five primary cybersecurity issues and illustrate how to rectify the them.
Outdated Software
Security software update nonchalance is arguably one of the leading cybersecurity errors people make. Most individuals also pay scant regard to those messages or notifications they receive periodically urging them to apply the latest patch to their applications. With current technological advancements, having modern wares puts the operating devices at the mercy of malware, viruses, and hacking.
Effects of Having Outdated Software
Failing to update your security software will result in data exposure los,s of information, and monetary loss. For example, in 2013, one of the largest retail companies in the United States, the Target Corporation, was hacked through its information system, leading to over 40 million customer’s debit and credit card details being exported. The company’s security software was not able to identify the malware. Thus, customer data was stolen by hackers.
How to Fix the Problem
To protect yourself from such mishaps, you should constantly update your security software to do away with the antivirus and firewall programs. The nature of such updates is usually of valuable patches that aid in preventing specific new threats. It is advised that applications be added to the automatic update option to provide up-to-date protection against future cyber threats.
Using Weak Passwords
Another common mistake is entering different, often easily guessed, passwords to your various online accounts. Aside from easily hackable passwords such as ‘123456’ or ‘password,’ a vast majority of users rely on relatively simple, not to mention readily crushable passwords.
Effects of Having Secured Passwords
Weak passwords may lead to identity theft, loss of money, credit card fraud, and unauthorized access to one’s data. Password cannot be hacked with E-mail, key loggers, or through guessing because it’s too familiar. Once computer hackers get your password, they can see what you are doing online and steal from you.
How to Fix the Problem
To correct this error, you should use passwords that act as passwords; this was a weak password since anyone with some knowledge of computers would crack it in minutes. Password should contain upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Never use your social security number or other personal data; avoiding using famous words and phrases is better. A password manager can also create and save appropriate passwords for your online services.
Falling for Phishing Scams
Another misstep that people make is falling prey to phishing scams. Others involve scams using legitimate emails aimed at getting individuals into providing personal details like passwords, credit card details, and social security numbers.
Effects of Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are dangerous since they delude people into believing that falling for fraud is not a significant drawback- something every bright individual gives in to from time to time. Phishing scams entitle hackers to steal personal data and, identity, money and provide them with full access to your information.
How to Fix the Problem
Anyone who wishes to reduce the incidence of being phished should exercise a lot of care while working with emails, links, or attachments. Be careful with unexpected emails, especially from essential emails asking you to share info. Check for the common bait that may accompany a phishing scam, including any wrong spelling, any generalized greeting, and any links or attachments provided. Phishing also has indicators and types, and you can learn about them.
Sharing Personal Information on Social Networking Sites
One problem most people fall into is invading their personal information online. Social networking sites users post full names, house numbers, phone numbers, and dates of birth or birthdays of individuals on their profiles.
The Effects of Personal Data Exposure on the Internet
Disclosing information via social networks exposes you to identity theft, scams, and other cybercrimes. For instance, credit card hackers may use your details to seek new cards or get social security numbers for identity theft when filing tax returns.
How to Fix the Problem
To fix this mistake, you should keep checking the information you put on various social networks. Do not give out personal details, including your full name, physical address, phone contacts, or bank details. You can also restrict the volume of information published on social networks by changing the account’s settings. In addition, technologies like VPNs and encryption can hide all our activities.
Lack of Mobile Device Security
Another typical blunder in terms of cybersecurity is paying no attention to the security of mobile devices. Mobile phones and tablets are personal and work devices, thus susceptible to cyber threats.
Effects of Failure to Consider Mobile Devices Security
That doesn’t include proper mobile device security, or one would either lose their personal data or money or have other people accessing their devices. For example, in 2014, card processing systems comprising ATMs fell to hackers, and proprietors of the banks and their customers lost millions of dollars. They were able to send malware to ATMs and this would cause the device to open for them and make withdrawals.
How to Fix the Problem
To rectify this problem, action must be taken to protect the cell phones and tablets. You should have an anti-virus to protect your device from viruses and you can use this too to ‘lock’ your device with a password. Do not connect your device to public internet connection causes, there is always a problem with such connections since they may not be secure. And do not trust any app you haven’t downloaded from the official app store.
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