How can you protect yourself from internet hoaxes ?
To safeguard yourself from internet hoaxes, it is crucial to exercise caution and skepticism towards any information that appears too good to be true. Let’s delve into the details and explore how you can protect yourself from internet hoaxes.
The most common online scams
Increasing the cyber resilience of users to protect themselves from Internet scams means knowing as much as possible about these incidents and how cybercriminals can attack them. What you do not know or what you are not prepared for, can seriously harm you. These are the most common forms of threats directed at people:
1) Phishing attack: A cybercriminal pretends to be a trusted brand, such as an online store or bank, or a well-known person, and uses it to convince some action, such as, share account credentials.
2) Package delivery scam: A scammer pretends to be Amazon, GLS, or another well-known delivery service and sends messages about false package delays, status updates, or other issues, hoping to fool the customer. recipient to download ransomware, steal money, etc.
3) Smishing and vishing: There are two types of attacks that cybercriminals use to steal personal information such as bank statements and credit card data. These attacks are called smishing and vishing, and they use different techniques than phishing. While phishing uses emails and links to gather sensitive information, smishing uses text messages or popular messaging applications, and vishing uses voice calls and voicemails. It’s important to be aware of these types of attacks and take steps to protect your personal information.
4) TOAD attacks: A TOAD attack is a relatively new phishing tactic that combines phone and email phishing techniques. By impersonating a trusted authority figure, attackers hope to deceive consumers into providing critical information over the phone, such as login passwords or financial information.
By calling the number, a telephone operator can direct the victim to a malicious site or install remote management software to trigger the incident.
5) Fake donations to charitable causes: Attackers can also take advantage of citizen solidarity. Through email, social media, or the phone, they solicit donations by incorporating legitimate organizations’ names and logos into their scams or by creating fake charities.
Tips to stay safe online
To avoid being deceived when shopping online, whether on sales or at any time of the year, just take these simple steps:
1) Use secure passwords and do not repeat them. You can consider using a password manager if you want to continue browsing smoothly, but maintaining security.
2) Avoid open and free WiFi networks. They have no protection, so cybercriminals can intercept transferred data, including credit card numbers and passwords.
3) Beware of phishing emails that lead to unsafe websites and may collect personal data. Also watch out for phishing by SMS or messages through social networks.
4) Scam ads, websites, and apps can be hard to spot. When you download a new app or visit an unknown site, read customer reviews or reviews to verify before trusting it.
5) Do not click on links of supposed offers. Instead, go directly to the source of what’s being advertised by typing the web address into your browser. Enter discount codes at checkout to make sure they are legitimate.
6) Attackers create sites that imitate those of well-known brands to take advantage of their image and trust with consumers. Be careful with these websites, as they can sell counterfeit (or even non-existent) products, be infected with malware, and steal credentials.