Common Types of Cybercrime to Be Wary Of

Cybercrime is a growing issue around the world, affecting both individuals and businesses. Cybercrime has become much more prevalent since the pandemic, and it is vital that both people and businesses are aware of the main threats and how they protect themselves. Cybercrime can do much more than just damage your device and can lead to very serious ramifications in real life. However, it is possible to protect yourself when you are aware of the main threats and take cybersecurity seriously. With this in mind, keep reading to discover the main threats to be aware of when it comes to cybercrime.

Ransomware

Ransomware has become one of the most common cyber-attacks in recent times and one that can have serious implications for both individuals and businesses. This type of attack involves holding sensitive data ransom and claiming to only free the data once money has been paid. Of course, there is no guarantee for this, and this is why prevention is so important. You can do this with a high-quality antivirus software, being wary of suspicious links, and keeping software up to date. Crucially, you should always back up sensitive data externally so that you have another copy available.

Social Engineering Attacks

Most attacks these days are some form of social engineering, which involves tricking people and manipulating them into taking some kind of action. Some form of interaction is key here, such as a cybercriminal hacking into someone’s account and then asking a contact for money and/or data. Due to the fact that these attacks rely on human interaction, they can be much harder to stop, and this is why you need to stay current on the latest types of social engineering attacks and have rules in place about sharing data online.

Phishing

Phishing attacks have always been one of the more common forms of cybercrime and have become even more prevalent due to COVID-19 capitalizing on the fear and confusion this has caused. It usually involves a malicious attack disguised as a reputable company encouraging a user to “log in” or share sensitive data. This is a quick, easy and effective attack for cybercriminals and can be hard to spot, which is why people should using anti-phishing training from places like Proofpoint. This will help you to be able to identify phishing attacks in various forms and stay safe.

Malware

Malware comes in many forms and is software that can monitor activity, damage/steal data, and even hijack computing functions. Worms, trojan horses, and spyware are all common types of malwares that can wreak havoc on your devices and cause damage in real life. Therefore, antivirus software is a vital layer of protection and a firewall and being cautious when downloading files and clicking on suspicious links.

These are the main attacks that you need to be wary of in 2021. Cybercrime is a growing and very serious issue, but it is possible to protect yourself when you know the threats and how to avoid them.