Internet scams are nothing new, but they are steadily becoming more difficult to notice and protect yourself against. That’s because the methods hackers use are constantly evolving so that they can ensnare unsuspecting users and access their sensitive data. Every day, a huge number of devices are targeted as part of hacker attacks. The result is billions of dollars lost in scams, as well as considerable problems for the victims, whose personal data and credit details can be stolen. Despite considerable warnings, many scams continue to impact the lives of people from all over the world.
This is precisely why you need to be aware of the modus operandi of these attackers, so that you can keep your data safe. If your information was obtained due to someone else’s negligence, you should access How to Sue for Compensation in order to receive the maximum amount you deserve. The amount you can receive as a result of a data breach will depend on the particularities of your case. Here are some of the most common hacker attacks that you should be aware of.
See Also: Internet Scams: What Are They And How To Avoid Them?
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Phishing
Phishing scams are some of the most common attacks targeting consumers. According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Report, almost 300,500 people became the victim of this type of scam during the year. Collectively, the losses amounted to over $52 million, approximately $173 for each victim. While that might not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, it can cause considerable difficulties for people who are budgeting or going through a financially difficult episode in their lives. 
Phishing remains so successful precisely because the emails or messages are becoming more credible and can trick more people into clicking on links or opening attachments, even if the sender is unknown. The most typical methods these scams will use is say they’ve noticed suspicious activity on your accounts, claim there’s an issue processing a certain payment, include fake invoices, or offer coupons for free goods and services.
The fact that these are reasonable reasons for which to receive a message can make you more vulnerable, but if you’re not 100% sure that an email is genuine, it’s safer to ignore it altogether. Check the email address and look for any spelling or grammatical errors. Sometimes, the messages will simply look off, like there’s something wrong about them. No reputable institution or business would ask you to share private information online, so that’s another red flag you should look out for. You should also educate yourself to take your time and look through the message before clicking on anything.
Disaster relief
Pretending to be an aid organization or NGO, hackers will use a tragedy to extract money from you. Most of these scams are related to floods or wildfires, and these disastrous events are exploited for personal gain precisely because the hackers know that people are more likely to become emotionally invested and not think too much before deciding to add their funds to the cause. Falling for this trap means supplying them with your credit card information. 
That means they can extract as much from your account as they need to. If you want to donate to charities, make sure to choose a well-known organisation. If you receive an email and are unsure if the sender is genuine or not, you should do some research on their background. If you look them up online and can find virtually nothing about them, it’s safe to say they’re probably a fraud, and it would be better for you to stay away from them.
Fake antivirus
Having a strong antivirus installed on your computer keeps you safe from attacks. You must update the definitions consistently to make sure you’re getting full protection. This is one of the factors many hackers seek to exploit. As a result, you might receive a pop-up informing you that you’re overdue an upgrade, or that malicious software was detected on your device. A download button will appear as well. This type of scam is also known as scareware, because users are likely to panic and press the button without reading the message thoroughly.
After the scammers get access to your computer, you’ll have malware, ransomware or other type of virus installed on your computer. Ads that bid you to take immediate action and use alarmist language should always make you suspicious. To protect yourself from threats, make sure the antivirus you install is official, and you have a licence for it as well.
Online shopping
Ecommerce has become increasingly popular among consumers over the past few years, as a result of the pandemic lockdowns. As such, many fake websites have begun to appear as well. If you buy something from them, chances are you’ll never see your product, but they will definitely get your money. It’s quite possible that they might try to extract even more funds from your account. In some cases, the sites will be unknown to you but appear legitimate.
In other cases, actual retailers are hacked, and shoppers are redirected to fake payment pages. That’s where hackers can access your personal details. The information they’re after typically pertains to your credit card or personal details. To avoid the scams, you need to check to ensure that the payment page matches that of the shopping website you used. Hackers will change the names only very slightly, and the difference can be so small that you don’t even notice it.
And if you’ve never heard of a particular website before, you should probably shop elsewhere. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.
Keeping yourself safe from online threats can be hard work, and you need to take many things into consideration. Knowing the places where you are most likely to be targeted can help keep you safe. Do not be too quick to click on links you receive via text message or email, and if something sounds too good to be true then the odds are that it’s not actually a real thing. Make sure to update your passwords regularly, choose reliable software and keep your antivirus definitions updated.
See Also: Can You Get Hacked By Replying To A Text? [Complete Guide]
