Many online scams use psychological tricks to try to extract sensitive information. This is where phone calls, emails, Messenger messages from people you know are used to try to extract sensitive information, either digitally or physically. These attacks will be faster and more targeted than ever before with the evolution of new technology like AI.
As we can see, cyberattacks are a significant concern these days, but they’re not the only threat you should be worried about. In this post, we’ll walk through some of the many ways cybercriminals can get your information from you.
How to be safe?
In a large corporate environment, employees usually use VPN connections. This creates an encrypted channel between the computer and the server that makes communications unintercepted – the IT department provides the administration and infrastructure. However, depending on the configuration, a home office often needs to connect to various external websites, email servers, messengers, etc., which are no longer protected by the VPN. In such cases, it is even more important to follow the basic rules, which are also essential to bear in mind as a private individual.
These include clicking on every unknown URL and only on the ones you know are trusted. This is especially true for web addresses in email, which are easy to cheat with – type it in by hand instead.
Many attacks use psychological tricks; this is social engineering. This is where phone calls, emails, Messenger messages from people you know are used to try to extract sensitive information, either directly or indirectly. If you receive such a call from a suspicious phone number, you should ask for an email address rather than giving your password, for example. The email address can be used to find out, for example, the company where you can ask what the call is about.
Suspicious emails from people you know can be checked with a phone call – and until then, follow the first rule: don’t click on the “Check this out” links.
Remember, act the right way: The internet is dangerous. Hackers and scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to manipulate people out of their money or sensitive information. As you navigate the web, these attacks can be challenging to spot. That’s why it’s important to be aware of some of the most common tricks that hackers use on unsuspecting victims, not only to protect yourself but also those around you.