We attend classes online, communicate with our friends on messaging apps, place online grocery orders and use our phones for banking and storing credit cards. The list goes on and on. All of this makes our lives easier, but it also makes us vulnerable to scammers, hackers and cyber criminals.
But, according to Chisholm Institute cyber security teacher Chris Freeman there is plenty we can do to keep ourselves safe in our increasingly digital world. He has shared some of the common threats to watch out for, and his tips to avoid them.
Phishing scams
We’ve all seen these common scams in one form or another, whether it’s a fake email which looks like it’s from a bank, or a text message which appears to be from a government department. It could even be a phone call offering you a deal that seems too good to be true. You may think you know what to look out for, but scammers change tactics all the time and use increasingly sophisticated tricks.
So, how can you recognise a phishing scam? Chris says to be wary of any messages asking you to verify your details or passwords or encouraging you to open links. “You might receive an email on a topical issue and be told to ‘click here’ for more information… or be asked to ‘click here to verify your location,” he says. According to Chris spelling or grammatical errors are often a sign a message doesn’t come from an official source and it’s also important to check the email address of the sender and make sure the links point to the website they say they will.
Chris says we all need to “stop and consider” every time we receive an unsolicited email or message. If you’re still in doubt phone the organisation involved to check if the email or message is legitimate. Or, log in via their website directly, not by clicking on any links.
Ransomware
Imagine switching on your computer one day and discovering you can’t access your files – they are literally being held to ransom and you can only regain access by paying a fee for an unlock code. This is the scary reality for those who are targeted by ransomware scams. “The malware usually gets into your computer because you clicked on a link in an email or on a web page,” Chris says. This is another very good reason to check links are legitimate before you click.
Data leakage
Just like water from a leaky pipe, confidential or sensitive information can sometimes spill out into the world. “A data leak is when sensitive data is accidentally exposed on the internet or lost on USBs or laptops,” Chris says. “Once it is out there its often very hard to delete.”
Just a simple error like choosing the wrong recipient when sending sensitive information via email can cause a leak. Sometimes it’s out of your hands and your personal information may be exposed by a company or organisation you have trusted.
How to stay safe
Here are Chris’ top tips to protect yourself online:
Be aware: “Before opening a suspicious email, consider who is sending it to you and what they’re asking you to do. Do not open attachments or click on links in unsolicited emails or messages. Reputable organisations including banks, government departments and large organisations like Amazon, PayPal, Google, Apple and Facebook, will never call or email you to verify your password or to update your personal information.”
Verify addresses: “If you’re unsure of where an email is from, double check by calling the organisation the suspicious email appears to be from, using contact details from a verified website or trusted source.”
Don’t give out personal information: “Don’t post photos of your home or photos of your kids wearing school uniform on public social media accounts.”
Know who you’re speaking to: “If a third-party has called you out of the blue, or offers you rewards, don’t trust them.”
Use a malware scanner: “Most modern computer operating systems have one installed already and it’s updated automatically. If you have an older operating system, upgrade as soon as possible.”
Choose strong passwords: “Use long and unique passwords on all your accounts, such as email, bank and social media accounts. Also, use two-factor authentication (2FA) on all essential services, as this way of 'double-checking' identity is stronger than a simple password.”
Like to know more?
To find out more about how you can identify and protect yourself against cyber crime visit: Protect yourself against phishing.
This article was first published in July 2020 and has been updated.
