The shift to digitalization, however lifesaving, comes with its own set of problems
One of the biggest outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic that locked us in our homes for weeks on end was compelling work, businesses and life in general to go completely digital. Whether we like it or not, or even if we are prepared for it, digital living is now permanently embedded in our lives. This technological advancement, however lifesaving, has its own set of problems.
“Although data shows senior citizens and the middle-aged population in semi-urban areas are the most susceptible, often highly-educated and supposedly tech-savvy people also fall prey to these money-losing honeypots quite easily.”
Why are we so gullible? Look for these red flags:
Free or Discount – There is and will never be a free lunch. E.g. 50% discount on trip to Maldives/Seychelles; dirt cheap FMCG products
Sense of Emergency – Pause. Ask yourself, is the alarm genuine? E.g. BEST Bill payment fraud
Healthcare – There are no shortcuts to heath. Exercise, diet and positive attitude have no substitutes. E.g. Wrong results of lab reports, medical policy frauds, WhatsApp messages on miracle cures for cancer, kidney stones, diabetes etc. Offers on lab tests
Online Payments – Lack of time and patience = financial loss. E.g. PayTm, GPay, Phone Pay, netbanking, mobile banking
5. Phishing Mails with Attachments – Prevention is better than cure. E.g. Mails with scripts/exe attachments
6. Phishing SMS/WhatsApp - Anything that is too good to be true, never is. E.g. Payment links, attractive offers
7. Mobile App Permissions – Think. Don’t compromise on your privacy because of laziness. E.g. Providing access to your SMS to banking and payment apps
8. Sharing Sensitive Data – KYC documents – Sharing with family is caring, but with public, it is suffering. E.g. Freely sharing important documents with strangers for loans, new SIM connections etc.
9. Gaming Sites like Blue Whale – You cannot be more careful that with your children and screen time, E.g. Addiction and mental harassment
10. Video Calls on Free Apps – Connecting with the world is amazing but drop your guard and it is disgracing. E.g. Ensure your privacy before getting on these calls.
11. Dating Sites – The right life partner makes your life fab, else it’s a lifetime in rehab. E.g. Financial fraud in the name of love and marriage
12. Masking Sites – Cloning in sci-fi movies is fantastic, stolen data is traumatic. E.g. These sites steal user data which is then misused
13. Phone/Laptop Theft – Always password protect your data. E.g. Thieves often steal these devices to gain access to stored sensitive data
14. OTP – Be alert, be safe. Don’t share your OTP with anyone. E.g. OTPs provide direct and easy access to online fraudsters
15. Credit/Debit Cards – Data once put online, can never be fully deleted. E.g. Guard your CVV number with your life
16. QR Codes – Technology causes problems, solves problems. Choose wisely. E.g. Beware of scanning automated QR codes especially from strangers
17. Free Wi-Fi – BEWARE. E.g. Railways, airports, coffee shops are breeding grounds for hackers
18. Calls from International Numbers – Your ‘foreignwala connection’ can lead to permanent disconnection. E.g. One of the oldest scams, fraudsters use this to hack into your phone
19. Promise of Employment – Hard work, integrity and upskilling is the only way to go. E.g. Online job offers almost never work (pun fully intended)
20. Deep Fake on Social Media – Fakes and mistakes, please forsake. E.g. Sharing and posting fake content.
21. Fake Calls - Avoid calls from people posing as representatives of software companies. E.g. Someone pretending to call on behalf of Microsoft – check credentials of the calling party thoroughly. The only authorized entity to conduct a software raid is NASSCOM or an authorized software auditor, and they will almost never make any such calls.
22. Ransomware Attack – This is the new-age kidnapping. E.g. Hackers hijacking data and asking companies to pay in bitcoins. Corporates need to strengthen their cyber security measures
What can you do? – It may sound and look tedious, but ensures full online safety.
1. Set Up a Secure Connection
Create a Password for Your Router
Change the Name of Your Network’s SSID
Set strong Wi-Fi passwords
Enable Network Encryption
Turn ON your router firewall
Disable remote access to routers
Connect to only known networks
2. Back-Up Data Frequently
Backup is crucial for data protection. A regular data backup—preferably daily or weekly—saves your important files from inevitable data loss situations due to common events such as system crashes, malware infection, hard drive corruption and failures, etc. There are free apps you can use. E.g. Google Drive, OneDrive Etc.
3. Use Strong Passwords & MFA
Password security starts with creating a strong password. A strong password is: At least 12 characters long but 14 or more is better. A combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a multi-step account login process that requires users to enter more information than just a password. For example: along with the password, users might be asked to enter a code sent to their email, answer a secret question, or scan a fingerprint.
4. Invest in Anti-Virus/Security Software
Antivirus is necessary even if you're on a Mac or Windows device, which both come with some level of virus protection built in. For total security with endpoint protection and response, and blocks against malware and potentially unwanted programs, it's best to install a third-party antivirus software.
Modern antivirus solutions are capable of:
Detecting, blocking, and removing viruses, malware, and ransomware
Preventing identity theft and block phishing and fraud
Warning about dangerous websites and links before you click
Scanning the Dark Web to find if an email address has been compromised
Keeping online accounts protected with secure password encryption
Providing simple training to teach you and your family how to be even safer online
Tuning up your computer to keep it running smoothly
5. Keep Software Updated
Updates fix any problems with software or hardware that were not detected before the product was released to the public. If you don't update, the computer could encounter those problems or be vulnerable to attacks.
Security is the No. 1 reason to update software immediately. Software vulnerabilities enable cybercriminals to access a person's computer. Threat actors see these vulnerabilities as open doors, enabling them to plant malware on people's systems.
Malware enables threat actors to take control of computers and steal information. Malware can also encrypt files, documents and other programs so they are unusable. Security patches block these open doors in the software to protect a device from attacks.
People sharing a network with others need to be extra diligent. An infected device can unknowingly spread malware to others in a network, including colleagues, friends and family.
Reasons why it’s important to update your systems regularly:
Patch security flaws
Protect data
Better security
Increased efficiency
Compatibility
Happier staff and customers
Reduced costs
6. Safe Browsing Habits
Don’t rely on your browser to protect you from malicious websites.
Keep your browser software up-to-date.
Run anti-virus software and scan files before downloading.
Use HTTPS.
Don’t reuse passwords.
Disable autocomplete for forms or remember your password features.
Read privacy policies.
Regularly monitor your bank statements.
Avoid public or free Wi-Fi.
Turn on your browser’s popup blocker.
Visit only legitimate and trusted websites for safe and secure browsing.
Use discretion and follow safe practices to download files or software from the internet as well as accessing online services using personal information.
Use caution when sending and receiving emails, to protect from phishing & spamming.
Be aware of the harm caused by inappropriate internet browsing.
Never use unsecure Wi-Fi access points when connecting for banking/financial transactions.
Use appropriate firewalls and strong passwords to keep your home computers and mobile devices safe and secure.
Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.
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