Hack it!

Ten ways you can be a Cybercrime victim

We cannot cyber secure ourselves till we know the ways we can become victims of cybercrime. It is just like thinking like a thief to take safety measures to avoid thefts.

It means that cybercrime comes first and cybersecurity later. Here are some basic points to know the ways we can become a victim of cybercrime.

Hack 1: Many of you go to a cyber café or at some public place and use your USB drive to get printouts or for any other purpose. But you don’t know that the data on your USB drive can get copied to the hard disk of the computer (where you attach the pen drive) without your knowledge and consent. Also, if you're required to log-in to your e-mail/social media/net banking accounts from multiple places, and you have not enabled the 2- factor-authentication (in that case along with the password you have to enter the code which is sent at your mobile phone number), consider yourself 'unsafe'. Secure yourself (use e-mails for taking print-outs, or create a password-protected zip file, so that even if it gets copied, the person will not be able to open it, and do not miss to add 2-factor authentication to all your accounts).

Hack2: By installing a keystroke recording software (or advanced keyloggers) on your computer or smartphone someone can steal all login details you enter, in fact, can have access to all your moves. It can lead to sending objectionable e-mails from your e-mail account and leakage of all your Whatsapp messages, calls, websites you surf, video calls, social media accounts and can even record you through webcam/camera of your laptop/smartphone and everything you do through your smartphone. Scared? me too..... Secure yourself (Do not give your smartphone to anybody and install a reliable purchased antivirus on your smartphone (I use Kaspersky), have a cover for your webcam).

Hack 3: It is possible that you click on a malicious link that is sent to you by some unknown person through e-mail or in a chat window. It can spread a virus type program that can infect your computer and record all your passwords and steal other information. That information can be misused and can cause mental stress and monetary loss to you. Secure yourself (Do not click on any random offer like, 'win an iPod' or 'win a free trip to Goa')

Hack 4: If you do not change your default Wi-Fi modem/router password (or use weak WiFi password, and do not use secured WPA2 encryption), it can be accessed by a hacker, the following can happen:

• Somebody can connect to your internet connection
• May stop your modem/router so that the internet does not work
• He/she can even watch all of your online activities

Secure yourself (Give scary SSID-the wifi-name (I use 'Cyber Security Team'), and change default login details to access your router)

Hack 5: When you open your e-mail account /social media site/net-banking on some computer other than yours, the web page could be a fake and look-alike page (phishing page). It can lead to the recording of the username and password which you have entered on that page. Secure yourself (Always check the correctness of URL -website address, before you enter your login credentials)

Hack 6: If you are using a webcam, that webcam can be hacked. It is possible that somebody can be watching you through your webcam. It is also possible that webcam is taking pictures/recording videos without your knowledge and those are being sent to the hacker. Secure yourself (Purchase a webcam over and always put the lid down when not using the Laptop).

Hack 7: While using the ATM card in an ATM machine, the card data and password could be recorded and subsequently, the card can be cloned and used for fraudulent transactions Secure yourself (Slide the ATM part where you insert the card, and always cover the hand while entering the ATM pin).

Hack 8: While surfing the web, if you think some website is not safe and carries doubtful contents (your browser will give a warning too...), don’t open it. Opening such a website could transfer and install spy software on your computer which in turn can steal information from your computer. Secure yourself (Have a trusted antivirus, and updated browser).

Hack 9: Sometimes, when you connect to a free Wi-Fi in /Coffe-shop/Airport/Hotel without using a VPN, consider yourself 'stolen'. (Always use a VPN to connect (I use Kaspersky VPN), but there many to choose from. Prefer using a purchased one than using a free one).

Hack 10: Last but not the least, if you download a free ant-virus program from the Internet, consider your all details leaked to some hacker. Also, if you are not using a paid antivirus program in your smartphone too, anything can 'happen'. (Always use a paid antivirus. You can use a trial version but do not download any free version.).

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