Cyber ​​self-defense, or what to do to avoid being deceived by criminals on the Internet

“Do not write down the PIN code for a credit or debit card on the same card, and do not write down the password for a computer on the desk or laptop casing” – each of us has heard this and similar advice more than once. Currently, however, these are not the causes of the most common threats in the digital world. Because as digital reality changes, so do the methods of cybercriminals. And yet, for these risky behaviors to turn into an actual loss – fraud, theft, damage to equipment or loss of data – the criminal would have to be in possession of the card or at the victim’s desk. Meanwhile, modern cybercriminals operate remotely and most often attack their victims remotely. It happens silently and, unfortunately, often due to our carelessness.

Source of threat

An example would be the careless use of e-mail. Phishing, i.e. phishing for information through fake e-mail messages, is one of the most common threats that many companies fall victim to. An employee who does not pay attention to the suspicious sender’s address or strange message content may click on a link leading to a website that steals system passwords or attachments containing malware. As a result, cybercriminals gaining access to sensitive company data can steal or encrypt it. And this can lead to serious financial and image consequences.

Careless use of social media may also be a source of danger. We have access to company profiles through personal profiles. Meanwhile, when our children are bored, their parents’ phones or tablets often become their toy. Do we always control what websites and applications they use? Unfortunately, it is often during innocent, childish play that a link that installs malicious software is clicked.

How to ensure safety?

It is precisely such minor negligence and our lack of vigilance that cybercriminals most often exploit. Therefore, the best defense against them is to gain knowledge about cybersecurity. Companies should also invest in educating their employees in this area and introduce appropriate procedures and tools for data protection. Large organizations do this, although often only as a result of serious crises. Small companies should realize that they are no less exposed to the risk of becoming victims of cybercriminals. Therefore, they should also take appropriate steps to prevent this from happening.

How to keep your company safe online? We invite you to listen to the 29th episode of the podcast “Development Inspirations. How to build without going crazy. Together with our guest Kamil Porembiński, a cybersecurity expert, we share practical advice on how to effectively protect your company against cyber threats. ?️ bit.ly/Cybersamoobrona

Author: Krzysztof Kuniewicz