How To Protect Ourselves From Cybercrime

To start the discussion let us know what is CYBERCRIME

What Is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device or a network. While most cybercrimes are carried out in order to generate profit for the cybercriminals, some cybercrimes are carried out against computers or devices directly to damage or disable them, while others use computers or networks to spread malware, illegal information, images or other materials. Some cybercrimes do both -- i.e., target computers to infect them with viruses, which are then spread to other machines and, sometimes, entire networks.

Effects Of Cybercrime

Identity Theft

Becoming the victim of cyber crime can have long-lasting effects on your life. One common technique scammers employ is phishing, sending false emails purporting to come from a bank or other financial institution requesting personal information. If you hand over this information, it can allow the criminal to access your bank and credit accounts, as well as open new accounts and destroy your credit rating. This type of damage can take months or even years to fix, so protecting your personal information online is an important skill to learn.

Security Costs

Cyber criminals also focus their attacks on businesses, both large and small. Hackers may attempt to take over company servers to steal information or use the machines for their own purposes, requiring companies to hire staff and update software to keep intruders out. According to EWeek, a survey of large companies found an average expenditure of $8.9 million per year on cyber security, with 100 percent of firms surveyed reporting at least one malware incident in the preceding 12 months and 71 percent reporting the hijacking of company computers by outsiders.

Monetary Losses

The overall monetary losses from cyber crime can be immense. According to a 2012 report by Symantec, more than 1.5 million people fall victim to some sort of cyber crime every day, ranging from simple password theft to extensive monetary swindles. With an average loss of $197 per victim, this adds up to more than $110 billion dollars lost to cyber crime worldwide every year. As consumers get wise to traditional avenues of attack, cyber criminals have developed new techniques involving mobile devices and social networks to keep their illicit gains flowing.

Piracy

The cyber crime of piracy has had major effects on the entertainment, music and software industries. Claims of damages are hard to estimate and even harder to verify, with estimates ranging widely from hundreds of millions to hundreds of billions of dollars per year. In response, copyright holders have lobbied for stricter laws against intellectual property theft, resulting in laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. These laws allow copyright holders to target file sharers and sue them for large sums of money to counteract the financial damage of their activities online.

So Now I Will Tell You Some Useful Tips To Protect Ourselves From Cybercrime

Your PasswordIt's understandable that you want your passwords to be easy to remember, but that's putting your computer and possibly your finances at risk. Passwords should be at least eight characters; include a combination of numbers, letters and symbols; and not be words related to you. Instead, use a memory device. Use the first letter of each word and include a date. "Ericka was born in Chicago in 1998." This might make your password "EwbiC1998$" (add a symbol of your choice at the end). One hacker reported that the way he entered most secured websites was by exploiting people's weak passwords.


Keep It SafeDon't allow others to access your password protected sites without you being present. After he or she does, change your password. Even the most well meaning person can accidentally make you the victim of a cyberattack if his or her computer is infected.


Go Low TechIf you have a spreadsheet of passwords or other digital files that are highly sensitive, consider keeping them on an old computer not connected to the Internet. If you don't have an extra computer, encrypt the files using one of the many free file encryption tools.


Two PlacesAnother layer of protection could involve keeping the files in two locations. Copy the encrypted files to a DVD or flash drive and give it to a trusted family member or friend. If your computer is infected by a virus and temporarily unusable, those files are still available to you.


Stay out of Bad NeighborhoodsWe know that some actions put us at greater risk of being victims of a crime. The Internet is the same way. Going to hacker sites, viewing adult content or going to sites that you know are scams put you at higher risk for a cyberattack than staying with more trusted sites.


Don't Fall for Pop-upIf an e-mail or pop-up window asks you to enter your username or password, don't do it. Instead, open your browser and go to the site directly. If you're still not convinced, call the company. Reputable companies will never ask you for your login information through an e-mail.


The Bottom LineIf you're worried about your bank or credit card company making you susceptible to cyberattack, it's more likely that your actions will make you a victim. Concentrate on what you can do to protect yourself and your computer. Check your financial accounts regularly to ensure no fraudulent activity has taken place.