Internet scams and viruses have a strange reputation. On the one hand, they are the digital equivalent of the bogeyman, this sinister force you are constantly warned about without ever seeing the evidence.
After all, phishing scams, among the most widespread and effective means of cyber attack, rely on people being duped into opening fake links, using fake websites, and interacting with fake people. It seems an unlikely phenomenon because most internet users are warned against interacting with shady websites or individuals online.
However, it remains incredibly prevalent.
There is a good reason for this. Cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly intelligent and difficult to police, with scammers mastering the art of disguise and human manipulation to change shape and form continually but remain utterly effective.
Despite this, you can protect yourself against online viruses in several ways.
Here are three tips to prevent your computer from suffering a virus attack:
Know which areas are most vulnerable to attack
Half the battle with internet scammers and phishing hacks is fully understanding what you’re up against. Professional con artists and scammers have used the same techniques for centuries, yet they continue to be as widespread as ever.
This is because they are master manipulators who rely on certain human fallibilities and blind spots to operate. For instance, online scammers (particularly phishing scammers) take advantage of people’s naivety by offering lucrative tax return deals, posing as popular websites, and even hacking their friends’ accounts, posing as them to extract sensitive information.
While this sounds like something you wouldn’t spot, it can be overcome by increased awareness of these scams. If you were told that someone would approach you on the street and try to scam you, chances are when you were scammed; your guard would already be up. The same approach can be used online. If a message or email sounds too good to be true, you are best off avoiding it, and if you feel pressured into handing over information, log out and walk away. Click here for more details.
Don’t leave anything on your computer you wouldn’t want to lose.
Another simple way to safeguard yourself against cyber threats is to avoid leaving sensitive data on your devices. Using a cloud-based account to store your data is a practical and safe way to stop hackers from stealing your sensitive information while keeping it all in a single file for you to access easily when needed. In the same way, you wouldn’t leave a large stack of money sitting on your window sill; you are almost certainly safer if you store your valuable data properly.
Make sure to verify every link you are sent.
Another simple tip to protect yourself against virus attacks is to double-check and verify every important link you are sent.
For example, if the bank emails you asking you to log in and change important account details, ring up your bank, or use another device to log in to the account separately to check if this is the case.
Avoid trusting what you read, even if the website looks legitimate. Phishing scams are becoming increasingly thorough, so nefarious third parties can take over famous individuals, companies, and even your friends’ accounts to persuade you to hand over sensitive data. Always double-check beforehand.