The Internet has become an important part of our lives, but it's also become a danger. The Internet is a wonderful place to get information and get connected no matter where you are, but it can also be a dangerous place to be. Cybercriminals have made it their mission to take advantage of the millions of people who use the internet every day to commit crimes and steal information from unsuspecting victims.
The following are the top ten online threats on the internet today:
Spam
Spam is the most common online threat. The term refers to unsolicited email messages sent from a third-party email address to an inbox or junk mail folder of a recipient’s computer. Spam can be either commercial or unsolicited, and it can contain both commercial advertisements and personal messages. Spam is one of the biggest threats to your computer's security. It's an email that you never asked for, and it's full of malware. Spam can contain anything from an infected attachment to a virus.
Adware
There are many types of computer threat but Adware is the most common and is used to display advertisements on your computer without your knowledge or consent. This type of software may be installed by accident or by someone who wants to install spyware or other malicious software on your machine. You should always check for adware when installing new programs, especially if you see an option for “Enable” in the installation process. If there is no mention of this term, don’t install anything! If you think you've installed an adware program but can't remember doing so, check anti-malware software for any signs that it may be installed on your computer.
Trojan
A Trojan is another type of internet threats that you need to avoid as much as possible. A Trojan is a program that appears legitimate but performs something harmful, such as stealing information from your computer or causing it to run at a high speed without your consent. They are often attached to emails so they can be downloaded onto your machine without being seen by you first! It runs malicious code on your computer. They can download malware onto your system and perform all sorts of other unwanted behavior like stealing passwords or making money for the hacker who created them.
Virus
Viruses are malicious software that infects computer systems and then spreads from one computer to another by using other files on the system as “carriers” or “viral” objects. They can spread quickly, especially if the user has not taken steps to prevent them from spreading, such as running an up-to-date antivirus program.
Worms
Worms are programs that infect computers without being attached to any particular program or file. In addition, they usually do not attach themselves to other programs on your computer, but instead will transfer themselves to all your files as soon as you open them.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of cyberattack where criminals send fraudulent emails included covertly in an email that appears to be from a reputable entity and looks like they come from your bank, credit card provider, or other trusted company to trick you into giving up your login credentials. The goal of phishing attacks is to steal your login credentials so that you can't log into your account and do things like buying things on the internet.
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that monitors what you do on your computer and sends this information back to its creator, who can use it for personal gain (e.g., tracking your credit card purchases). Spyware can also be used for more criminal purposes, such as stealing passwords or personal information from your computer or mobile device.
Keyloggers
Keyloggers can act as spyware, monitoring what you're typing on your keyboard and sending that information back to the attacker. It's often installed via a Trojan phishing email attachment that tricks you into downloading it when you click on the link in the email message. Once installed, a keylogger can send sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers to criminals who use this information for financial gain.
Pharming
Pharming is an act where criminals set up websites that mimic legitimate websites to trick users into downloading malware on their computers. Once installed, this malware allows cybercriminals to log into compromised computers while they are logged into their accounts at legitimate websites (such as banks). This makes it easier for them to steal information or extort money from their victims.
Rogue Security Software
This seems very real, like it will tell you that your PC is affected by some virus and it will offer you to purchase their software against some amount to remove the virus from your device. Rouge security software will do nothing but just rob you of money in the name of extra protection.
Conclusion
We have discussed 10 common online and internet threats in this Article that you should be aware of and be cautious of when you are looking for internet services.nicelocal is the platform where different internet service providers are listed and those are safe and secure for your computer.
Check out the internet services providers near me for a better and safe internet connection.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).