SAFETY FROM CYBER CRIME

WHAT IS CYBER CRIME?

 Computer crime, or cyber crime, refers to any crime that involves a computer and a network .The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target. Issues surrounding this type of crime have become high-profile, particularly those surrounding cracking,copyright infringement, child pornography, and child grooming. There are also problems of privacy when confidential information is lost or intercepted, lawfully or otherwise.

Internationally, both governmental and non-state actors engage in cybercrimes, including esponiage,  financial theft, and other cross-border crimes. Activity crossing international borders and involving the interests of at least one nationstate is sometimes referred to as cyber warfare. The international legal system is attempting to hold actors accountable for their actions through the International criminal court.

SAFETY FROM CYBER CRIME

There's a famous saying online: "There is no patch for human stupidity," but this doesn't mean you have to be a computer whiz or even internet savvy to protect yourself and your finances from cybercrime. Being a well-prepared and well-informed internet user is your best defense, no matter your level of computer expertise. 

1) EDUCATION

- Hackers aren’t the only ones who can gain power from information. By educating yourself about the types of scams that exist on the Internet and how to avert them, you are putting yourself one step ahead of the cybercriminals

2) USE OF FIREWALL

- Firewalls monitor traffic between your computer or network and the Internet and serve as a great first line of defense when it comes to keeping intruders out. Make sure to use the firewall that comes with your security software. And if you have a home wireless network, enable the firewall that comes with your router.

 
 3) CLICK WITH CAUTION

- When you’re checking your email or chatting over instant messenger (IM), be careful not to click on any links in messages from people you don’t know. The link could take you to a

fake website that asks for your private information, such as user names and passwords, or it could   download  malware  onto your computer. Even if the message is from someone you know, be cautious. Some viruses replicate and spread through email, so look for information that indicates that the message is legitimate.

4) PRACTICE SAFE SURFING

 - In addition to practicing safe surfing, you also need to be careful where™, to tell you if a site is safe. websites that ask for your personal information and pages that contain malware. Use a search engine to help you navigate to the correct web address since it will correct misspellings. That way, you won’t wind up on a fake page at a commonly misspelled address. 

5) PRACTICE SAFE  SHOPPING

- Because hackers have a® SecurityCenter, available preloaded you shop online. Be cautious when shopping at a site that you’ve never visited before and do a little

investigation before you enter your payment information. Look for a trustmark, such as McAfee

And when you’re on a payment page, look for the lock symbol in your browser, indicating that the site

uses encryption, or scrambling, to keep your information safe. Click on the icon to make sure that the

security certificate pertains to the site you are on.

6) USE COMPREHENSIVE SOFTWARE AND KEEP YOUR SYSTEM UPDATED

 - Hackers can access data while it’s in transit on an unsecured wide variety of ways to access your system and information, you need comprehensive security

software that can protect you from all angles. Software like McAfee

on Dell™ PCs, can help protect you from malware, phishing, spyware, and other common and

emerging threats. Just make sure that you keep your security software up to date by selecting the automatic update function on your security control panel. And don’t forget to perform regular scans.

You also want to update your operating system (OS) and browser with the latest security patches.

7)SECURE YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK

 - Although it may be easier for you to remember short passwords that wireless network. You can keep the hackers out by enabling the firewall on your router and changing

the router’s administrator password. Cybercriminals often know the default passwords and they can

use them to hack into your network.

You may also want to set up your router so it only allows access to people with passwords that are

encrypted. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on setting up encryption.

8) USE STRONG PASSWORDS

 - Despite the warnings, cybercrime is increasing, fueled by common mistakes reference your birthday, middle name, or pet’s name, these kinds of passwords also make it easy for

hackers. Strong passwords can go a long way in helping secure your information, so choose a

password that is at least 10 characters long and consists of a combination of letters, numbers and

special characters. Also consider changing your password periodically to reduce the likelihood of it being compromised                                                     .      

9) USE COMMON SENSE

 - Even if you consider yourself cyber savvy, you still need to keep your guard up for people make such as responding to spam and downloading attachments from people they don’t

know. So, use common sense whenever you’re on the Internet. Never post personal information

online or share sensitive information such as your social security number and credit card number.

Exercise caution when clicking on any links or downloading any programs.

10) BE SUSPICIOUS

any new tricks and be proactive about your safety. Backup your data regularly in case anything goes

wrong, and monitor your accounts and credit reports to make sure that a hacker has not stolen your

information or identity.

Although protecting yourself does take some effort, remember that there are a lot of resources and tools

to help you. And by adopting a few precautions and best practices, you can help keep cybercrime from

growing.

- When navigating the web, you need to take precautions to avoid phony® SiteAdvisor® software to help you navigate.

 .....Best of all, once you learn this information, it's yours forever. No one can "hack" your brain and steal this priceless information away from you!

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