With technology now part of our everyday lives, at work and at home, criminals are taking advantage of our internet connectivity and adapting processes and creating programs to exploit digital vulnerabilities. According to the National Crime Agency, there has been a significant growth in cyber criminality, especially with ransomware campaigns. * If you are concerned about your cyber security for either personal use or for your business, the first step is identifying the most common forms of cybercrime. You can then take steps to mitigate the risk that they pose.
Here at OpSec Solutions, we believe that knowledge is power, especially in cases of preventing cyber-attacks, so in this article we will explain the 3 most frequent cybercrimes and how to avoid them, so you can reduce the chance of falling victim to this type of crime.
Phishing
Phishing is one of the most commonly reported tactics used by cyber criminals and is often the reason behind many security breaches. It comes in the form of emails, text messages or social media messages that purport to be from reputable companies in an attempt to get the recipient to reveal personal information or data that can be used to steal money or gain access to sensitive information.
We are all likely to have received phishing emails, and although most of us can identify the more obvious phishing scams, cyber criminals are becoming increasingly adept at making messages seem legitimate. So, what can you do to avoid them?
- Make sure you change your passwords regularly.
- Ensure you have spam filters on your email addresses.
- Always read your email or message thoroughly and if anything looks amiss, investigate before giving out personal information or clicking on a website link.
For businesses:
- Have two-factor identification on your company or website login.
- Add web filters to block any websites deemed worrying or that may contain malicious content.
- Train your employees on the dangers of cybercrime.
- Make sure you have spam filters on your company inboxes to prevent your employees receiving phishing emails.
Malware
Malicious software, otherwise known as Malware, is a software program that is designed to “infect” your computer. You will most likely know it as a virus or trojan, although it tends to be a catch-all term for any destructive software, including spyware and adware.
Malware can be used to gain access to all your information and sensitive data, which can have a devastating impact on your personal life and finances or your business’ reputation.
To help prevent malware attacks, we recommend the following:
- Ensure you have adequate antivirus software on your home computer or business network.
- Regularly check your computer for any suspicious activity.
- Do not click on any email links if you cannot verify the source of the email.
- Install a firewall.
Ransomware
Although ransomware uses malware to gain access to a person’s computer, instead of quietly stealing the information, cyber criminals lock you out of your PC or network by encrypting your files and then demand ransom for the decryption key.
Unfortunately, this is often a successful cyber attack as it is often quicker and easier to pay the ransom, especially for businesses with sensitive data. So, how do you prevent this?
- Never open suspicious email attachments.
- Don’t click on unknown links on websites you do not trust.
- Ensure all your computer programs and operating systems are up to date.
- Avoid giving out personal information that criminals can use to specifically target you.
- Avoid using public wi-fi networks where possible, especially for financial transactions.
- Always backup your data.
How OpSec Solutions can help
OpSec Solutions balances a team of highly trained personnel, with years of experience in the private investigative sector, with state-of-the art equipment and technology, to help identify fraudsters and criminals, either on a personal or a corporate level. We also understand that preventing cybercrime is a better solution than investigating after the fact, which is why we take a proactive approach to protect your home network, organisation, information, and assets. Our prevention strategies are hugely successful in preventing cybercrime and data breaches before they happen.
Hiring a private investigator when you have fallen victim of cybercrime or fraud can often be a daunting and embarrassing process. We want our clients to be able to trust us and feel comfortable about how we operate. By using a reputable firm such as OpSec Solutions, you ensure anyone working on your case has the required skills to investigate your issue and they are fully supported by our use of innovative technology solutions. This means we use techniques that will allow us to stay discreet and considerate of you or your business and give us the best chance of finding the perpetrator and bringing them to justice, as well as helping in the recovery of stolen goods and assets.
If you are in need of our help and have been a victim of cybercrime, or if you want more advice on how to prevent cybercrime either on a personal level or within your business enterprise, then please contact us here at OpSec Solutions, we are just a phone call or email away. Please contact us today using our contact form on the website or call us on 0844-664-1125 to arrange a free consultation.
*https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/