Reaching a goal or accomplishment you’re proud of and celebrating it with your loved ones is one of life’s greatest joys. These unique occasions deserve bragging rights, whether you got married, celebrated a birthday, or taught your dog how to give a high-five.
Unfortunately, the internet isn’t always secure when sharing precious moments online. It can be dangerous to send and receive private files from your friends and relatives. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to share files online safely. I can give you the knowledge you need to stay secure when sharing online.
Phishing scam prevention
Watch out for suspicious emails, texts, phone calls and messages. Be wary of spelling mistakes, misspelled email addresses, pixelated images, fraudulent links and malicious downloads. Phishing is one of the most common cyber threats. But the good news is that these messages often have red flags.
Phishing messages are sent as an email, phone call or text message from a cyber criminal pretending to be someone they’re not. They may use urgent or threatening language, request sensitive information or promise prizes for those contests you did not enter.
These messages may even include links or downloads that could install malware onto your device. You should always be suspicious of links or downloads sent to you unexpectedly, even if they’re from a sender you know.
Avoid malware
Stay away from viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware and ransomware. Buy software from reputable sources, download apps from the official app stores, and update your devices automatically. Malware is a standard method that cybercriminals use to infect systems and devices so they can steal information from their victims.
The most common tactic to infect your devices with malware is through downloads, which can be tricky when sharing files with loved ones online. Cybercriminals are experts at making malware look like legitimate files, which can be particularly tough to spot. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself against these scams is to download reputable anti-virus software and update your software regularly.
Every time you download something, antivirus software provides your devices with an additional layer of security. Essentially, this software analyzes the safety of files downloading onto your device.
Software updates often contain essential fixes, bug patches and security updates that can help your devices stay protected from cyber threats.
Back up your data
Protect your data from technology failures, natural disasters, ransomware attacks or lost devices. Create copies of your most important information and store them in a secondary location.
Your special moments are just that – special! It’s essential to keep them safe on your devices so they don’t get lost or corrupted. The easiest way to protect your pictures and videos is to back them up.
Following cyber-safe best practices like learning to spot phishing scams, being aware of malicious downloads and backing up your files can help protect you from cybercrime.
To learn more about consumer concerns, you can download our mobile app, FRAUDSTER, available on Apple and Android. You can learn more at www.FraudsterApp.com.
If you’ve already downloaded the FraudsterApp, click the training icon on the home screen to learn to protect yourself.
For companies looking for comprehensive employee training in cybersecurity, Cyology Labs can help you with your cybersecurity. Call us for a free consultation.
