Online threats are always adapting and changing, constantly being redesigned and re-released in an almost endless number of ways. They make the lives of many people very difficult as they jeopardize the safety and security of their sensitive financial and personal information. They are the reasons behind the development of various identity theft protection systems and other programs intended to protect data.
In addition to automated threats, various other scams are developed by criminals in order to trick people into giving up their personal information. Worse, these cons are increasingly becoming more sophisticated. This means that you should also be increasingly vigilant with how you store data such as social security and account numbers; not to mention you should be wary of social media usage, photo sharing, and online video viewing.
Now one of your best ways to prevent yourself from getting victimized by identity theft and other security threats is to be aware of how they work and what types of scams are out there. Here's a list of some of the latest security threats you should be aware of:
Risks from PDF Files
Many have fallen victim to a certain 'exploit' that penetrates your system through Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. This exploit has caused many problems for users after they get tricked into using malicious JavaScript that attaches itself to PDF documents in form data. Once executed, this type of malware can copy data from the user's temp folder, which then allows the malware's creators to gain access to potential personal information of the PC's owner. This particular threat has wreaked havoc among many business systems and it can be hard to remove if you're not savvy with computer usage.
Many have fallen victim to a certain 'exploit' that penetrates your system through Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. This exploit has caused many problems for users after they get tricked into using malicious JavaScript that attaches itself to PDF documents in form data. Once executed, this type of malware can copy data from the user's temp folder, which then allows the malware's creators to gain access to potential personal information of the PC's owner. This particular threat has wreaked havoc among many business systems and it can be hard to remove if you're not savvy with computer usage.
Risks from YouTube
The simple act of uploading or watching videos in YouTube could expose your computer to viruses, particularly Trojan Horses that could damage or steal your data. This threat isn't directly from YouTube though, rather it comes from scammers and fraudsters who send you spoof emails that claim they're from YouTube. These messages often come in the form of accusations of illegally uploading certain materials. From there, said messages will then ask you to download attachments or files to absolve the matter. Once you do so, your PC will likely get infected. Fortunately, anti-virus software and identity fraud detection programs can help detect and prevent such intrusions.
The simple act of uploading or watching videos in YouTube could expose your computer to viruses, particularly Trojan Horses that could damage or steal your data. This threat isn't directly from YouTube though, rather it comes from scammers and fraudsters who send you spoof emails that claim they're from YouTube. These messages often come in the form of accusations of illegally uploading certain materials. From there, said messages will then ask you to download attachments or files to absolve the matter. Once you do so, your PC will likely get infected. Fortunately, anti-virus software and identity fraud detection programs can help detect and prevent such intrusions.
Risks from Instagram
Instagram is arguably the most popular photo platform for mobile devices to date. For this particular threat, it's iPhone users who run the biggest risk of falling victim. This threat operates on the premise of Instagram accounts getting hacked by criminals who are on the same network with the use of spoofing attack called Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). Once the hacker hijacks the session, they glean out sensitive from owner through the Instagram account information. There's not much to worry about though, as the threat can be easily neutralized by removing the cookie that hackers use to gain access - this can be done with a simple press of a button.
Instagram is arguably the most popular photo platform for mobile devices to date. For this particular threat, it's iPhone users who run the biggest risk of falling victim. This threat operates on the premise of Instagram accounts getting hacked by criminals who are on the same network with the use of spoofing attack called Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). Once the hacker hijacks the session, they glean out sensitive from owner through the Instagram account information. There's not much to worry about though, as the threat can be easily neutralized by removing the cookie that hackers use to gain access - this can be done with a simple press of a button.
Risks from Fake Apps
Today, there are now third-party websites that offer downloads of Android apps along with instructions on how to install these into your device. However, going for such sites isn't always a wise course of action, as you'll never know when it may be peddling fake apps that are infected with viruses or are capable of stealing information once launched. It is, therefore, best to rely on the original sources of such apps, such as Google Play, to ensure that you're getting authentic programs. Granted, this might be a bit more expensive, but it would be nothing compared to the potential loss you'll experience if you do get scammed.
Today, there are now third-party websites that offer downloads of Android apps along with instructions on how to install these into your device. However, going for such sites isn't always a wise course of action, as you'll never know when it may be peddling fake apps that are infected with viruses or are capable of stealing information once launched. It is, therefore, best to rely on the original sources of such apps, such as Google Play, to ensure that you're getting authentic programs. Granted, this might be a bit more expensive, but it would be nothing compared to the potential loss you'll experience if you do get scammed.
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Posted By Lotfi Ben Taleb
Tunisian Blogger obsessed with technology news and innovations around the world. contact me
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