Notes

Security and Risk Online: Cybercrime Prevention Tips for 2017

2016 is almost done and year 2017 winds its beginning. A brand new year will unfold, are we ready enough to protect ourselves from cyberattacks once again? Cybercriminals will certainly come up with newest unlawful schemes to deceive people. And we must be aware and mindful enough to protect ourselves from such threats.

I prepared some tips to protect yourself from cyberattacks:

- One of the most important things to remember is that never give your personal and financial information right away when buying or selling online. Check their background first and purchase from a reputable and well-established sellers only.

- Be cautious and discreet online. Do not share too much information about yourself on the internet and keep your personal and financial information private. Cybercriminals will definitely use that information to their advantage.

- “Generate a strong password” or “Create a strong password” are advice we constantly see online. Setting a strong password is important because it can stop or prevent various cyberattacks on your online accounts. Do not use passwords that are obvious and very predictable, if you use the same passwords on all of your online accounts then it will become easy for thieves to gain access and wreak havoc on your personal and financial life. You wouldn’t want that to happen right?

- Do not let your guard down when using social networking sites because cybercriminals are lurking there. Your privacy and security could be in danger so make sure to optimize your privacy settings.

- This may be a bit simple but make an effort to set a lock on your computer as well to the other electronic devices you have.

- Opening email attachments and links can be harmful because they sometimes carry spyware and malware such as Trojan horses, worms and viruses that can infect your computer and steal private information from you. It is better to ignore and delete emails from unknown senders.

- Understand and avoid the dangers of downloading free apps on your mobile phone. Free apps could contain harmful code that can damage your mobile device and compromise your personal data and expose it to identity thefts.

There’s no limit to all of the things we can do online to make our life more convenient. However, it can also make us susceptible to frauds and scams. If you notice any suspicious activity and became a victim, quickly report it to local authorities.