Cybercrime: how to protect yourself and your devices from cyberthreats

Cybercrime

Cybercrime is a fast-growing area of crime. More and more criminals are exploiting the speed, convenience and anonymity of the Internet to commit a diverse range of criminal activities that know no borders, either physical or virtual, cause serious harm and pose very real threats to victims worldwide.

Although there is no single universal definition of cybercrime, law enforcement generally makes a distinction between two main types of Internet-related crime:

  • Advanced cybercrime (or high-tech crime)– sophisticated attacks against computer hardware and software;
  • Cyber-enabled crime – many ‘traditional’ crimes have taken a new turn with the advent of the Internet, such as crimes against children, financial crimes and even terrorism.

THE CHANGING NATURE OF CYBERCRIME

New trends in cybercrime are emerging all the time, with estimated costs to the global economy running to billions of dollars.

In the past, cybercrime was committed mainly by individuals or small groups. Today, we are seeing highly complex cybercriminal networks bring together individuals from across the globe in real time to commit crimes on an unprecedented scale.

Criminal organizations turning increasingly to the Internet to facilitate their activities and maximize their profit in the shortest time. The crimes themselves are not necessarily new – such as theft, fraud, illegal gambling, sale of fake medicines – but they are evolving in line with the opportunities presented online and therefore becoming more widespread and damaging.

Online safety

The Internet and technology have penetrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives. This has created many positive conveniences, but also provides criminals with opportunities to reach new victims. It is important to protect yourself and your devices from criminals who wish to exploit them. However, technology is constantly evolving and criminals are always finding new ways to manipulate it, so you must always remain vigilant and adopt new safety measures on a regular basis. Here are some tips on how to stay safe. There are also many other valuable resources offering online safety advice, and we encourage you to use all available information to protect yourself and your activities.

Reduce spam (which can contain viruses or be used for phishing)

  • Keep your spam filter switched on;
  • Be suspicious of unsolicited advertising and offers;
  • Be on the alert if you do not know the sender;
  • A trusted website or online payment processor will never ask you to confirm sensitive information like passwords or account details;
  • Delete any suspected spam immediately and do NOT open any attachments.

Be alert to phishing scams

A phishing email may appear to come from a trusted source. Some warning signs are if the e-mail:

  • Is sent from a free webmail address, not from an organization’s official address;
  • Opens with a generic greeting, and is not personalized with your name;
  • Contains a threat, for example that your account is not secure or may be shut down;
  • Requests personal information such as username, password or bank details;
  • Includes a link to a website with a URL (web address) that is different from the organization’s official address.

Browse safely

  • Check the URL in the browser address bar and look for any spelling mistakes or unexpected names;
  • Be suspicious if a website does not give any contact details;
  • Before giving any personal or financial details, check that you are on a secure link. Look out for the ‘s’ in ‘https’, and a padlock symbol.

Keep your computer safe from viruses and other technical problems by using the following:

  • Firewall;
  • Anti-virus software;
  • OS Update (for security patches and bug fixes);
  • Anti-spyware tools.

Other steps to take

  • If you install file-sharing software, ensure it's done properly;
  • If you have a wireless network, make sure it's encrypted;
  • Block browser pop ups or try using different browsers;
  • Open attachments only if they're sent by people you know and trust;
  • Create strong passwords – at least eight characters long and including a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks or symbols;
  • Keep your passwords secret; never give them to anyone.

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