Different Ways Followed By Hackers For Cybercrime
These days cyber crime cases are on the rise and a lot of people fall into the trap of fraud by sharing their personal information and bank account details unknowingly. As digital adoption is rising, hackers are finding new ways to mislead people and trick them through varied ways.
Cybercrime is a big threat to businesses and individuals nowadays. Hackers are finding new ways to commit cyber crimes every day which sometimes takes common and innocent people into the trap of fraud. To make you alert, this blog lists some of the different ways followed by hackers to commit cyber crimes. For your benefit, It will also discuss some ways to protect yourself from these threats.
Way 1: Phishing
One popular way that hackers use to commit cyber crimes is called phishing. In Phishing, the hacker sends out emails that look like they are from a legitimate company or organization. The email sent by them will often ask the recipient to click on a link that takes them to a fake website that looks exactly genuine and real, resembling a legit brand. The website will then ask for your personal information, such as your credit card number or your bank account details to make you fall into the trap. Once you enter all your personal details into the fake website your account gets hacked. This way, the hackers can not only get access to your personal information but also can use it to withdraw or transfer your money.
Way 2: Password Re-use and Weak Passwords
One of the most common and easiest ways through which hackers gain access to people’s accounts is through password reuse and weak passwords. In many cases, people use the same password for multiple accounts, or they use a very weak password that can be easily guessed. Hackers can use simple tools to guess millions of passwords very quickly, and if even one of those passwords matches an account that the hacker is trying to access, they will be able to get in. So this is why you should always create a password that is a combination of numbers, alphabets, and symbols.
Way 3: Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. This can be a devastating attack, as it can make your important files completely inaccessible. There are many different ways that ransomware can be delivered, such as via email attachments, exploit kits or malicious websites.
Once encrypted, the victim will typically see a message demanding payment to decrypt their files. Ransomware attacks can be very costly, and there is no guarantee that paying the ransom will result in the recovery of your data. That’s why it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from this threat, such as keeping backups of your important data and using security software with anti-ransomware capabilities.
Way 4: Malicious Apps
There are numerous apps on the play store and app store that are intended to make your life easy but what if you are looking for something and you download an app that looks like a genuine app but it is not? The apps developed for the purpose of stealing information or money just look like the usual apps and can make you fall into the trap without any effort. They can use excessive permissions which are not at all required to steal your information. These apps can be in the form of social messaging apps, money transfer apps, discount apps, etc.
Ways 5: Smishing
Smishing is a way when hackers send out SMS containing information that looks legit and genuine but in real terms, it is just sent to induce users to reveal their personal information related to bank accounts. In some ways, it can also tempt users to call on a particular number which makes users fall into a trap.
Way 6: Insecure Network Access
There may be times when you go into public places and ask for the wifi password. While this can be a great positive aspect for you to access free-wifi, do you know, if the network that you are accessing is not safe, any hacker can interpret what you are accessing and send over it and can easily steal your critical information? To safeguard yourself, it is always advisable to not open online banking sites while you are on such networks.
How to protect ourselves from these different ways of hacking?
There are many ways that hackers can use for committing cybercrime, and it is important to be aware of these different ways in order to protect yourself. Below are some tips on how you can keep yourself safe from different types of hacking:
1. Keep your software and antivirus up to date: By keeping your software up to date, you can patch any vulnerabilities that may be exploited by hackers. Be sure to also regularly update your antivirus software to keep it effective against new threats.
2. Use strong passwords and avoid using the same password at multiple sites: Using strong passwords that are difficult to guess can help prevent your accounts from being hacked. Avoid using the same password at multiple sites as well, as this gives hackers more opportunities to access your accounts if they manage to crack one password.
3. Beware of phishing emails or misleading SMS: Phishing emails or misleading SMS are designed to trick you into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links. Be wary of any emails or SMS that ask for personal information or seem suspicious in any way. If you’re unsure about an email, contact the company it claims to be from directly before clicking on anything.
