As communities try to stop the spread of COVID-19 by imposing lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, the internet has become both a tool that enables us to accomplish tasks from the comfort of our home, and a measure of comfort to help us stay in touch with the world and with the people who matter to us.
Because the vast majority of people are being asked to stay home, there isn’t much else to do other than use the internet, whether it’s for work or leisure. However, with more people online, there are more likely victims for cybercriminals to take advantage of. There have been several reports of the spike in cybercrime rates since the outbreak of the pandemic. This is a real threat and it’s important to pay attention. Here are a few things to help secure yourself from these criminals:
Don’t Open Unsolicited or Suspicious Emails
Hackers employ a wide variety of phishing scams in order to gain access to your data. Phishing emails are designed to look like they were sent from a legitimate source. They often contain malware that might not only damage your computer, but might steal sensitive data such as security codes, bank account numbers, your address, etc. A simple but effective measure again phishing emails is to mark suspicious emails as spam. This way, your inbox automatically treats similar emails in the same manner, sending them straight to this folder instead of your main inbox.
Keep Computer Software Up to Date
Despite the inconvenience posed by software updates, they do serve a purpose. We have to understand that cybersecurity is essentially an arms race between blackhat and whitehat hackers. Exploits can be discovered, and these exploits are often patched up through a system update. It is a never-ending process that needs to be routinely accomploished to ensure that your devices are safe.
Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) essentially hides your internet activity. This is important for people who work on public networks often. These networks can easily become a point of entry through which a cybercriminal can hack your device.You may have already seen an ad for a VPN on Youtube. There are plenty of VPNs to choose from, which can make choosing one difficult. If you need assistance in this regard, try consulting VPN reviews so that you can narrow down your decision.
Manage Social Media Settings
It’s important to check your social media account settings to see if there are pieces of information about you that are left public by accident. Sensitive information such as your email address, birthdate, contact number, and home address should be hidden from public view, as these pieces of information can be used to guess your passwords.
With a massive increase in internet usage, it’s a more dangerous time to be online. Even with COVID-19 as our primary concern, there are still people out there who intend to take advantage of others during desperate times. Follow these simple measures to ensure that you aren’t a victim of cybercrime.
