This past year and a half have been challenging for football fans worldwide as many have been forced to watch their favourite teams play on streaming websites instead of watching them live. Though there's something to be said about being able to watch your favourite team play from anywhere in the world, it's essential to know that not all streaming sites are safe from hackers and cybercriminals. Even if you've used that streaming site previously with no issues, hackers can always find a way to get access to your personal information and exploit it. You can keep entertained online, but you need to stay safe online too.
Football fans need to take caution regarding cyber threats when they trade their tickets for TV or online subscriptions. If you're someone who enjoys streaming live football games and you want to learn more about cloud security so that your personal information is always protected, keep reading to find out more.
The Dangers Of Streaming Sites
The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has shone a spotlight on criminals operating online who hack into accounts by uncovering people's easy passwords or passwords that have been compromised previously. The NCSC recently discovered that roughly 700,000 accounts had been hacked by hackers guessing the passwords of users' devices such as 'Chelsea’, ‘Liverpool’, or 'Arsenal.' So, the next time you want to create a password for an unlinking streaming platform to watch a football game, be more creative with your passwords.
These hackers also do things like watching the game the person they've hacked has paid for; the hackers might also make unauthorized purchases on the streaming platform or try to steal some of your personal information that could be useful in their future scams. This includes using scam phone calls or emails to target people. Investigations made by the NCSC have also found that there have been more reports of these types of hacking or cyberattacks when other TV subscription models have recently launched as an increasing number of people are spending more time at home.
It's not just hackers that you need to be wary of, malware can be a colossal issue when you stream online, and it's an issue that you should be aware of. Recently, the criminals behind digital piracy regularly make the content freely accessible illegally to "trap" countless people. They then make money by charging other cybercriminals to put malware on a site that allows them to hijack your device.
The NCSC has encouraged football fans worldwide to head some essential tips, which are part of the NCSC's Cyber Aware (News - Alert) practices, to keep their personal information and cloud accounts secure.
How To Improve Your Cloud Security
1. Refresh your streaming accounts: This is an excellent way for people to reset their passwords to keep their accounts secure. Hackers often use credentials taken in previous security incidents to hijack streaming accounts by using those compromised details. If you like to use the same password for your football streaming accounts that you've also used on different occasions previously, it's the perfect time for a password reset.
2. Set a strong password: Try to use a password that is different from the password you use for your email address and try to make sure it's made up of three random words. You can save this strong and impenetrable password in the browser, so you don't need to stress about possibly forgetting it.
Update your streaming apps: Cyber Criminals abuse the weaknesses in streaming apps to get access to your personal information. As a result, providers consistently issue patches in the form of updates to curb these attacks. You're vulnerable to being hacked without them, so ensure that all your streaming apps are updated as often as possible. To make things easier for yourself, turn on your auto-updates.
3. Use secure networks: If you're streaming from your neighbourhood café, library, or even from the airport, always try to avoid using the 'free' open (no encryption, no password) WiFi (News - Alert) that is promptly accessible. Think about it carefully; if you're able to log onto the network freely and easily, what could a prepared and trained hacker do? Keep in mind; this applies to all your devices. Any unprotected device is at risk. Try to set up a firewall to restrict third-party access on all our devices. To add fuel to the fire, in the first six months of 2018, it was reported that there had been 5.99 billion malware attacks. That is exactly 100% more than what was said in the same period in 2017. You must ensure that you limit your risk and stop attacks by taking vital precautions on your devices before malware spreads.
4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your accounts: This free and easy security feature adds a layer of protection online and prevents hackers and cybercriminals from accessing your accounts, regardless of whether they have your password.
5. Back up important information: If a cybercriminal hacks your account or device, your personal information could get lost, taken, or damaged. Try to always keep a copy of your essential information in the form of backups that you store on separate devices.
