The Secrets of Cybersecurity: 5 Key Internet Safety Rules

21/ 04/ 2021

How do people fall victim to hackers on the Internet?. The users of the Internet often experience cyberattacks resulting in the loss of money and private information thefts. In most cases, hackers exploit users’ carelessness and violation of basic internet safety rules. Even security software cannot protect users when they perform activities that draw hackers’ attention. Let us take a look at the most common mistakes committed by Internet users that make them vulnerable to cyberattacks: the set up of weak passwords that may be easily cracked by hackers by testing just a few popular combinations. For example, a typical error committed by users is the set up of passwords consisting of consecutive numbers or date of birth; ignorance of two-factor authentication; the use of non-verified Wi-Fi networks in public spaces; provision of personal information on non-verified or unsecured websites; opening of files attached to suspicious emails or messages; lack of attention when checking the website’s authenticity; the use of a single or similar password for all accounts; saving passwords in browser; the publication and disclosure of too much information about themselves in social networks; false prejudice regarding own security on the Internet; provision of access to personal devices to family members including children and elderly people who are weakly aware of cyber threats; the execution of risky operations mentioned in electronic messages received from friends or colleagues without verifying their identity by calling them or using other verification methods; failure to regularly update security software. Consequently, most mistakes mentioned above are casual and often Internet users do not even realize the scope of cyber threats they face. The negligent behaviour of Internet users empowers hackers since to achieve their goals these malicious actors need to perform simple operations instead of developing complex methods of hacking users’ devices or accounts. 19 out of 20 cyberattacks take place due to mistakes committed by Internet users. In the search for high easy profits even teenagers consider the possibility to become hackers. For example, according to the UK National Crime Agency the average age of cybercrime suspects equal 17. The security of Internet users is in their hands. How to detect a cyberattack?. To effectively deal with the implications of a cyberattack users firstly need to detect them. Users of the Internet often face the most spread types of cyberattacks and, thus, they can easily detect them by knowing a set of common features of cybercrimes. The faster users detect malicious activities performed by hackers, the less damage they will experience. The most common indicators of a cyberattack: messages sent to friends, colleagues, or third parties without any permission; errors when entering the right passwords; abnormal functioning of personal devices; low speed of Wi-Fi network; the launch of unknown programs when starting a computer; fake virus scanning messages; money withdrawal from the bank account; incoming messages about the purchase of goods and services unknown to a user; regular redirections of a user to suspicious resources when trying to open popular web pages; incoming messages on two-factor authentication which a user did not initiate; incoming ransom messages; deactivation of antivirus software without the user’s approval. Upon detecting at least one of these indicators a user needs to immediately take measures to deal with the outcomes of a cyberattack such as to block his banking cards and notify friends and colleagues of the hack of his accounts. A user also needs to scan devices using verified programs and in case he doubts whether the result of scanning are trustworthy or does not have enough expertise, then he needs to contact specialists to check whether his devices are infected with malware. To prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future and protect other users of the Internet from similar cyberattacks a user who is facing a cyberattack needs to notify police or other bodies authorized to fight against cybercrimes of the experienced security incident. Personal security on the Internet: 5 key rules. There are no Internet users who can protect themselves from all types of cyber threats. However, by following basic Internet safety rules the users will be able to significantly mitigate the level of security risks. Based on the analysis of the most common types of cyberattacks committed by hackers the specialists of the company Hacken have developed 5 basic rules of personal safety on the Internet: Password management: users need to use different strong passwords for each account and do not tell them to anybody including third parties, relatives, and colleagues as well as do not save them in the browser. Besides, users need to regularly change even strong passwords. When, to this end, users need to use a large number of passwords, then they need to install specialized password management programs; The use of two-factor or multi-factor authentication to log in to accounts. When applying the two-factor authentication the use of SMS is not a reliable method. Minimal use of public Wi-Fi networks. When users need to connect their devices to public Wi-Fi, they should not carry out financial transactions or log in to the accounts containing massive volumes of personal information; The use of licensed antivirus software to scan personal devices for the presence of any forms of malware. To minimize risks users should avoid using free antivirus software since hackers often use them to access victim’s devices; Control of information shared by a user on the Internet. A user can share personal information only when he is sure that the person requesting this information is real. For example, when getting an email from a bank containing requests to commit certain suspicious actions, a user has to call the bank’s hotline to check the information. Users should not disclose any information about their financial status, buying habits, preferences on the Internet, and other facts that may be used by cybercriminals for malicious purposes. Overall, by following the basic rules of safe behaviour on the Internet users will significantly strengthen their resistance to cyberattacks. The specialists of the company Hacken notice an interesting pattern: cybercriminals do not attack users who have at least a basic understanding of cybersecurity. Generally, hackers follow the principle of least resistance and that is why the users who follow Internet safety rules are likely to be ahead of cybercriminals in terms of digital security.

How do people fall victim to hackers on the Internet?

The users of the Internet often experience cyberattacks resulting in the loss of money and private information thefts. In most cases, hackers exploit users’ carelessness and violation of basic internet safety rules. Even security software cannot protect users when they perform activities that draw hackers’ attention.

Let us take a look at the most common mistakes committed by Internet users that make them vulnerable to cyberattacks:

the set up of weak passwords that may be easily cracked by hackers by testing just a few popular combinations. For example, a typical error committed by users is the set up of passwords consisting of consecutive numbers or date of birth;
ignorance of two-factor authentication;
the use of non-verified Wi-Fi networks in public spaces;
provision of personal information on non-verified or unsecured websites;
opening of files attached to suspicious emails or messages;
lack of attention when checking the website’s authenticity;
the use of a single or similar password for all accounts;
saving passwords in browser;
the publication and disclosure of too much information about themselves in social networks;
false prejudice regarding own security on the Internet;
provision of access to personal devices to family members including children and elderly people who are weakly aware of cyber threats;
the execution of risky operations mentioned in electronic messages received from friends or colleagues without verifying their identity by calling them or using other verification methods;
failure to regularly update security software.

Consequently, most mistakes mentioned above are casual and often Internet users do not even realize the scope of cyber threats they face. The negligent behaviour of Internet users empowers hackers since to achieve their goals these malicious actors need to perform simple operations instead of developing complex methods of hacking users’ devices or accounts. 19 out of 20 cyberattacks take place due to mistakes committed by Internet users. In the search for high easy profits even teenagers consider the possibility to become hackers. For example, according to the UK National Crime Agency the average age of cybercrime suspects equal 17.

The security of Internet users is in their hands.

How to detect a cyberattack?

To effectively deal with the implications of a cyberattack users firstly need to detect them. Users of the Internet often face the most spread types of cyberattacks and, thus, they can easily detect them by knowing a set of common features of cybercrimes. The faster users detect malicious activities performed by hackers, the less damage they will experience.

The most common indicators of a cyberattack:

messages sent to friends, colleagues, or third parties without any permission;
errors when entering the right passwords;
abnormal functioning of personal devices;
low speed of Wi-Fi network;
the launch of unknown programs when starting a computer;
fake virus scanning messages;
money withdrawal from the bank account;
incoming messages about the purchase of goods and services unknown to a user;
regular redirections of a user to suspicious resources when trying to open popular web pages;
incoming messages on two-factor authentication which a user did not initiate;
incoming ransom messages;
deactivation of antivirus software without the user’s approval.

Upon detecting at least one of these indicators a user needs to immediately take measures to deal with the outcomes of a cyberattack such as to block his banking cards and notify friends and colleagues of the hack of his accounts. A user also needs to scan devices using verified programs and in case he doubts whether the result of scanning are trustworthy or does not have enough expertise, then he needs to contact specialists to check whether his devices are infected with malware. To prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future and protect other users of the Internet from similar cyberattacks a user who is facing a cyberattack needs to notify police or other bodies authorized to fight against cybercrimes of the experienced security incident.

Personal security on the Internet: 5 key rules

There are no Internet users who can protect themselves from all types of cyber threats. However, by following basic Internet safety rules the users will be able to significantly mitigate the level of security risks. Based on the analysis of the most common types of cyberattacks committed by hackers the specialists of the company Hacken have developed 5 basic rules of personal safety on the Internet:

Password management: users need to use different strong passwords for each account and do not tell them to anybody including third parties, relatives, and colleagues as well as do not save them in the browser. Besides, users need to regularly change even strong passwords. When, to this end, users need to use a large number of passwords, then they need to install specialized password management programs;
The use of two-factor or multi-factor authentication to log in to accounts. When applying the two-factor authentication the use of SMS is not a reliable method.
Minimal use of public Wi-Fi networks. When users need to connect their devices to public Wi-Fi, they should not carry out financial transactions or log in to the accounts containing massive volumes of personal information;
The use of licensed antivirus software to scan personal devices for the presence of any forms of malware. To minimize risks users should avoid using free antivirus software since hackers often use them to access victim’s devices;
Control of information shared by a user on the Internet. A user can share personal information only when he is sure that the person requesting this information is real. For example, when getting an email from a bank containing requests to commit certain suspicious actions, a user has to call the bank’s hotline to check the information. Users should not disclose any information about their financial status, buying habits, preferences on the Internet, and other facts that may be used by cybercriminals for malicious purposes.

Overall, by following the basic rules of safe behaviour on the Internet users will significantly strengthen their resistance to cyberattacks. The specialists of the company Hacken notice an interesting pattern: cybercriminals do not attack users who have at least a basic understanding of cybersecurity. Generally, hackers follow the principle of least resistance and that is why the users who follow Internet safety rules are likely to be ahead of cybercriminals in terms of digital security.