Is my Device Secure Enough?

The advancements in modern technology have made our lives much easier. We’re never far away from a device or an internet connection for long periods of time. Our entire world is connected, and getting online has never been easier.

However, despite the ease and convenience that technology has brought us, there are still some dangers that we could face. Cybercriminals are always lurking around and waiting for the perfect time to strike,

You must have several cybersecurity tools in place to protect your device, such as antivirus software for example. If your device is left exposed, you could be at risk of falling victim to devastating cyberattacks.

What Risks do Your Devices Face?

Cybercriminals have developed something called malicious software, which is also known as malware for short. Malware is extremely dangerous, and if it is installed on your device you could be at serious risk.

There are different types of malware, and each one has been uniquely designed to do a specific job. Below you can find some examples of the most common forms of malware and a short description of what they do;

• Viruses – a computer virus is something that many people have heard of and experienced for themselves. They are amongst the most common types of malware that you may find amongst your devices. There are different types of viruses, and each is designed to do a different job. For example, one virus might be able to delete your files whereas another might make copies of itself to prevent it from being removed from your device. Some viruses can be even more dangerous and could destroy your device’s operating system, rendering it completely useless. Viruses are dangerous as they can be transferred between devices, which means you could send or receive viruses between different devices without even knowing it.
• Spyware – Spyware is another type of malware that your devices might be attacked with. Spyware is able to keep track of your internet traffic and monitor what you do online. This means that a hacker would be able to see which websites you visit and in some cases, they can even steal your passwords and login credentials. Not only is this a major invasion of privacy, but it can also be extremely dangerous if a cybercriminal is able to steal your data and sell it to other cybercriminals.
• Ransomware – Ransomware is the most dangerous form of malware that you can encounter on one of your devices. Ransomware is able to encrypt your files or accounts. Encrypted files essentially become ‘locked’ which means they can’t be accessed, transferred or moved. The only way to remove the encryption is to pay the ransom fee to cybercriminals. Ransomware has caused billions of dollars in damage over the past year alone. The frequency of ransomware attacks has also spiked since 2020, with experts estimating that ransomware attacks take place every 11 seconds.

There are other forms of malware that can be installed on your device, however, the malware listed above are amongst the most common and most dangerous that you could come across on your devices.

What Criminal Tactics Do You Need to be Aware of?

Cybercriminals are constantly developing new tactics to infiltrate people’s devices. The most common tactic used by hackers is phishing. Phishing can be used to install malware on your device or steal your personal information, login credentials or banking details.

Phishing scams are when cybercriminals send emails to the inbox of their potential victims urging them to interact with an attachment or link in the email. Once the victim interacts with the link or attachment malware will be installed on their device.Phishing scams have been common for many years, however, recently hackers have been refining their strategies to become more successful at luring in unsuspecting victims since many people have caught onto their tricks. Cybercriminals are using social engineering to trick people into falling for their traps.

Cybercriminals will pose as companies that their victim will know and trust. The phishing emails will replicate the company’s color scheme and logos which will lead to most people believing that it’s a real email from the company. Oftentimes the victim will be urged to follow a link to log in and change something on their account or download an attachment that is claimed to be an important document that they need.

The Most Important Cybersecurity Tool

If you want to keep your device secure and free from cyberattacks there is one important cybersecurity tool that you must invest in. Premium antivirus software is the best form of defence against malware and sketchy websites.

Antivirus software will constantly scan your device for any malicious software. If any malware has been discovered on your device, the antivirus software can take action to remove it from your device before it does any more damage.

It is crucial that you keep your antivirus software up to date. Software updates are often sent out by developers to fix any flaws that have been discovered in the software. The updates will also add extra defensive features that will help to protect your device from the latest trends in cybercrime.