Most data breaches are caused by human error or lapses. And that’s why cybersecurity awareness is the key to prevent these breaches.
Would you be able to spot a scam or fraudulent offers online? Online threats have been becoming more frequent and sophisticated as time goes by. Each year, there are new scams concocted by nefarious people, whether to steal your personal data or incur damages to you and/or your business. Below are a few reasons why we should be aware.
1. Prevent Losses
The damages that follow after a cyber-related incident can be costly. Data theft is mostly the goal of these attacks, whether to obtain your credit card details, or even just simply identity theft. Some potential repercussions include reputation damage, loss of revenue, and operational disruptions.
2. Reduce Stress
Being on the receiving end of a cyberattack can be very stressful. This is especially true if it damages your reputation. An example is what had happened to my cousin-in-law. She had been a victim of a phishing scheme. The attacker had gained access to her social media account and had social engineered the people in her friends list to transfer money, which some had also fallen victim. Looking back, it wasn’t anybody’s fault but the attacker, but it could also had been prevented had many of theme were aware of the scheme.
3. Cybersecurity Threats are Not Going Away Soon
Threats are not going away soon. In fact, they are getting more sophisticated and bold each year. That is why it is also important to stay updated on the latest threats and how to avoid them. Though the methods have evolved, the types of threats have pretty much stayed the same, at least at the time of this writing.
So, What Do You Need to Do to Stay Aware?
1. Keep your Online Accounts Secure
Most social engineering and phishing schemes target social media accounts. Stressing the importance of keeping your accounts secure. Do not rely on just a password, there are additional steps you can take to keep them as secure as possible. Such an example is turning on two-factor authentication. You can read more on how to keep your online accounts more secure.
2. Be Always Suspicious
It doesn’t hurt to be a bit more suspicious of every single link that is sent to us. Even if it was sent by someone you trust, you must always be suspicious if it’s safe to click or not. Phishing schemes usually involves getting the target to click on a link. It usually gets a hold of personal data when clicked, or download malicious software on your system.
3. Learn the Latest Threats
Online scammers find new ways to trick their targets each year. One such trick I’ve experienced is receiving an SMS message inviting me for a Work-from-Home opportunity. Of course, I found the link too suspicious so I never clicked it. I even gone ahead and block the number. So by being aware of the latest cybersecurity threats, we can safely identify them and prevent any damages.
How to Stay Aware of New Threats
In order to inform the public, new types of threats and scams are published on tech sites such as ours. There are also events that are held each year just for the purpose of talking about cybersecurity awareness. Such an event in the Philippines is DECODE.
Be equipped with cybersecurity know-how to rise above a crisis, make informed decisions, and win the war against cyber threats. DECODE 2021 will be on November 10-11, 2021.
DECODE is the premier cybersecurity conference in the Philippines hosted by Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity. To know more about this event and to secure your slot for free, visit https://decodeph.com.
#Decode2021 #DecodePH2021
