There’s no denying that the online world of today has made shopping convenient for us by manifolds. We all saw how online shopping boomed during the COVID pandemic, and how businesses sustained by shifting to work-from-home modes.
However, as much benefit we’re getting with the internet, it still haunts us in several ways. One of the ways is online fraud. An estimate showed around $4.35 million in business losses were recorded for 2022 as a result of security breaches due to online fraud.
Another showed that 1 billion emails were exposed because of online fraud, which resulted in 1 in every 5 internet users being affected. That is why you must protect yourself from online fraud and scams.
Thankfully, that’s why we’re covering the topic for you and giving you the tools to protect yourself from this menace. We’re listing some tips that you can use and enhance your protection from online scam attempts and more. So, without further ado, let’s get started:
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Get a Secure Internet
The first thing that you should do is to get yourself a secure internet. It’s important if you want to secure the foundation of your defenses. A safe internet will minimize any unauthorized attempts into your network, let alone your data.
Plus, it also ensures that your provider has deployed good security at their end, giving you peace of mind. For instance, Xfinity Internet uses security modules that incorporate antivirus, antimalware and antispyware tools, keeping their customers safe.
If you want to prioritize your safety over the internet, then it’s better to choose an internet provider that offers such security.
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Browse Authorized Sites Only
Another advantage of acquiring a safe internet connection is that it mitigates you from opening unsafe websites. A sign of safe websites is that they carry HTTPS protection. If not, the browsers indicate that these are unsafe/ unprotected.
However, your internet provider has some tags installed in their surfing configurations that mitigate browsers opening sites having possible malicious content. If you’re online, then it’s better to stay away from such sites.
These sites have malware encoded in their script, which, on visiting, activates itself. As a result, it damages your devices and can lead to data breaches or even ransom attacks.
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Don’t Use Credit Cards Often
As stated earlier, the internet has made shopping quite easier for us. However, it also has created a hassle for shoppers since data breaches mostly occur to steal credit card information fed online. That is why to safeguard yourself from online frauds and scams, you should avoid using your credit card often.
Even if you’re ordering something and have chosen a card on payment as an option, ensure that the POS machine is verified and even generates a slip. Make a habit of changing your PIN after use or removing your card’s information when used online. It’ll only make things safer.
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Keep Your Device’s Security Updated
In addition to depending upon the security offered by your internet provider, you should equip yourself with the latest security system for the devices you’re using. Keeping security software on your device will help you make things easier as you can protect yourself even if the security from your provider isn’t available.
Just ensure that you’re using premium software since the free ones don’t offer quality protection and also don’t have an expanded features’ list. Whether you’re using the internet on your phone or a laptop, ensure that you’re running security checks while passing through the websites and downloading content.
Moreover, you should also activate parental controls so that your children don’t access malicious sites or download anything that would result in a cyberattack.
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Avoid Opening Suspicious Content
From opening suspicious emails to receiving calls, replying to messages, or re-entering your credentials after you’ve just logged into your account, you should be aware of possible phishing attempts.
Phishing is one of the most prominent methods of scamming since it involves sending a malicious link. When opened, the attacker receives the user credentials, data, and information on the victim’s device, and can use it for whatever purpose he wants.
That’s why you should have an active security system that prevents you against phishing as well as spyware and malware attacks. However, your vigilance is expected at such times because in most cases the malware is strong enough to surpass basic security.
If nothing then it can corrupt your data, leaving you with damaged content at the end of the day, which is why you should be vigilant whenever you encounter such instances.
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Avoid Sharing Your Personal Information
While you’re protecting your data, you should be vigilant with what you’re sharing online, particularly on social media. In most cases, attackers stalk their prey to find out vulnerabilities that they can exploit.
Any legal document, credit card information, medical bill picture, etc. can lead them to access your accounts without even needing information from you. That is why you should avoid posting too much personal information.
Yes, you can share pictures but make sure any such information that can lead attackers to your financial accounts isn’t uploaded or even on your device.
Closing Thoughts
Despite all these tips, we can’t really promise that you’ll fully secure yourself from a cyberattack. However, following these, you surely can fortify your foundation and prevent yourself from becoming a target. In any case, you should keep in touch with your internet provider if you find anything suspicious.