Cybercrime may sound far-fetched at first, but it’s actually rather frequent. Even if it’s unpleasant to contemplate, imagine the extent to which it would be if you were the victim of a cyberattack that you might have avoided. The targets of most breaches are regular people.
You could be inviting harm upon yourself or taking needless risks without realizing it. We’ve compiled a list of online sins that might lead to real-world repercussions so you can strengthen your security measures.
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Downloading without Scanning
Cybercriminals’ primary objective is to have you download malicious software or apps that steal your data. This malware can masquerade as any kind of app, from a well-known game to a travel or weather app. Don’t install software from unreliable sources or those that look dubious, PCWorld warns.
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Using Public Wi-Fi
Even though a public Wi-Fi network appears to be secure, the malicious activity could be taking place beneath the surface. If you can connect to a Wi-Fi network without entering a password or username, this could be a more dangerous hotspot than you realize.
Man-in-the-middle attacks, in which hackers intercept your data while it’s in transit, are a prevalent danger on Wi-Fi networks. It’s also possible that you’re communicating over an unsecured network, making you vulnerable to eavesdropping.
In effect, a criminal may be able to listen in on your every move. Bad news!
The safest bet is to avoid unsecured public networks and instead use only those that have been verified as secure. To deceive you into connecting, malicious hotspots may use names that sound like those of reputable networks in an effort to steal your personal information. Don’t do any online banking, shopping, or personal account access when utilizing a public Wi-Fi network.
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Not Keeping Your Privacy Settings On
Both marketers and hackers benefit greatly from having complete access to your personal details. Equally informative to both are your online and social media habits.
However, control over your data is in your hands. Lifehacker notes that privacy controls are available in most browsers and mobile operating systems. Privacy-enhancing features are also available on popular platforms like Facebook.
Companies desire your private data for its marketing worth, so they may make these options (deliberately) difficult to uncover. Activate and maintain these privacy settings for maximum protection.
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Using the Same Password for all Accounts
Do you ever feel like there are too many passwords and you can’t remember them all? Every online service, from email, banking, and social media apps, to streaming sites and beyond, requires a password. Is it any surprise, then, that some people just use the same password for everything?
In 2020, 60 percent of victims who had their passwords compromised had used the same password on more than one account. While it’s tempting to use the same password for all of your online accounts, doing so exposes even the most secure ones to the same level of risk as the least secure ones.
All your digital defenses will fall apart like a house of cards if a hacker can access your master password via a weakly secured account.
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Not Changing your Wi-Fi Password Regularly
Changing your Wi-Fi or router password isn’t something most people think about, but it’s important. It’s easy to fall into the trap of using the factory settings password. After all, at first glance, they seem like exceptionally secure passphrases. The truth is default passwords are trivially easy to crack, and before you know it, you’ll have slackers dragging down your connection.
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Not Updating your Antivirus
Although it is important to keep your Internet security software up to date, it will protect you from most infections. Always update to the most recent version of your operating system and any other software you use. They add a necessary safeguard.
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Not Thinking Before Clicking
Phishing emails are the first step in more than 90 percent of all successful cyberattacks. Phishing scams are among the most popular forms of cyber attacks. Cybercriminals make a lot of money off of them since thousands of people fall into their clutches every year.
While they are unfortunately frequent, they are preventable if you are able to recognize and avoid falling for them. The greatest solution is to stop and reconsider each click.
When it comes to cyber security, it’s frequently best to go with your gut. If anyone you aren’t acquainted with sends you a random email, you should probably just delete it. To trick you into opening an attachment or clicking on a link that includes malware or a virus, phishers sometimes use enticing subject lines or messages. Always verify the link’s URL matches the content in the email by rolling over it. If it doesn’t, then it’s best to avoid the link.
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Linking Your Accounts
People frequently connect their own accounts for the sake of convenience. Logging into multiple accounts at once may seem convenient, but a compromised account might have serious consequences.
It’s tempting to link your Facebook account with anything from Netflix to your bank account. However, this leaves you vulnerable to having your financial information stolen if a hacker gains control over your Facebook account.
Having to use several passwords for each online service you use is unpleasant, but it’s better than leaving your sensitive information wide open to hackers.
Conclusion
Unsafe browsing can expose you to a variety of risks, including coming into contact with individuals you’d rather avoid and the possibility of having embarrassing comments or photographs posted publicly about you.
The key to online safety is developing secure routines. Taking safety measures to ensure your protection is the greatest method to avoid being attacked.