What can I do to protect myself against cybercrime?

What can I do to protect myself against cybercrime?

Cybercrime is defined as a crime in which a computer is the object of the crime (hacking, phishing, spamming) or is used as a tool to commit an offense (child pornography, hate crimes). Cybercriminals may use computer technology to access personal information, business trade secrets or use the internet for exploitative or malicious purposes. Criminals can also use computers for communication and document or data storage. Criminals who perform these illegal activities are often referred to as hackers.

Cybercrime may also be referred to as computer crime.

Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of activities, but these can generally be broken into two categories:

1) Crimes that target computer networks or devices. These types of crimes include viruses and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

2) Crimes that use computer networks to advance other criminal activities. These types of crimes include cyberstalking, phishing and fraud or identity theft.

How do you recognize cybercrime?

Recognizing a cybercrime depends on the crime being committed. Malware surreptitiously downloaded to your computer might slow it down and prompt it to give you error messages. Phishing attacks, meanwhile, usually involves receiving emails from unknown sources trying to trick you into giving up your passwords or personal data. Keyloggers leave their own telltale signs, like strange icons, or duplicating your messages. On the other hand, you may never suspect your computer has been enslaved to a botnet.

You might think that the only form of cybercrime you have to worry about is hackers stealing your financial information. But it may not be so simple. There are far more concerns than just basic financial ones. Cybercrime continues to evolve, with new threats surfacing every year.

    1. Full-service internet security

For instance, Norton Security provides real-time protection against existing and emerging malware including ransomware and viruses, and helps protect your private and financial information when you go online.

    2. Keep your software updated

    This is especially important with your operating systems and internet security software. Cybercriminals frequently use known exploits, or flaws, in your software to gain access to your system. Patching those exploits and flaws     can make it less likely that you’ll become a cybercrime target.


    3. Manage your social media settings

    Keep your personal and private information locked down. Social engineering cybercriminals can often get your personal information with just a few data points, so the less you share publicly, the better. For instance, if you post     your pet’s name or reveal your mother’s maiden name, you might expose the answers to two common security questions.

    4. Strong passwords

    Don’t repeat your passwords on different sites, and change your passwords regularly. Make them complex. That means using a combination of at least 10 letters, numbers, and symbols. A password management application     can help you to keep your passwords locked down.

    5. Strengthen your home network

    It’s a good idea to start with a strong encryption password as well as a virtual private network. A VPN will encrypt all traffic leaving your devices until it arrives at its destination. If cybercriminals do manage to hack your     communication line, they won’t intercept anything but encrypted data. It’s a good idea to use a VPN whenever you a public Wi-Fi network, whether it’s in a library, café, hotel, or airport.

6. Protection against identity theft

Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully obtains your personal data in a way that involves fraud or deception. You might be tricked into giving personal information over the internet, for instance, or a thief might steal your mail to access account information. That’s why it’s important to guard your personal data. A VPN — short for virtual private network — can also help to protect the data you send and receive online, especially when accessing the internet on public Wi-Fi.

7. Up to date on major security breaches

If you do business with a merchant or have an account on a website that’s been impacted by a security breach, find out what information the hackers accessed and change your password immediately.

Some other tips if you’re already a victim are:

-Contact the companies and banks where you know fraud occurred.
-Place fraud alerts and get your credit reports.
-Report identity theft to the FTC.

Protecting yourself against cybercrime can be time-consuming, but always worth it. Practicing safe browsing, such as avoiding strange downloads and untrusted sites, is a common-sense solution to cybercrime. Being careful with your login details and personal information can also keep you a step ahead of cyber criminals. But the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to use a powerful antivirus such as Avast Free Antivirus.

As the crime rates are increasing so does the need of good criminal lawyers.

Who can help you with this?
Looking for an experienced criminal lawyer who can help you with the cyber crime situation? Look no further. Have a consultation with some of best lawyers in India with Lawtendo.