Did you know that we Latinos are still one of the major victims of different types of cybercrime? There are a lot of factors at play here, from the digital divide to a lack of funding and resources that limit our knowledge.
Well, I’m here to play my part in changing that. I believe knowledge is power, and in this article, I’ll give you all the knowledge you need about the different types of cybercrime that we often fall victim to.
I’ll also throw in some prevention strategies that are easy to apply and won’t be too heavy on your budget. Let’s begin!
Phishing
Nope, this is not some sophisticated form of fishing, but it kind of works the same way. The only catch? You’re the fish about to be eaten! Phishing is a strategy hackers use to gain your personal information by sending you fake emails or texts, while acting as a trusted source. With this information, they can access sensitive data or login information and even install viruses on your device and control it.
Identity Theft
Reminds me of the movie with Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman. But make no mistake, identity theft is far from a funny issue because it could literally drain you out of everything you’ve worked so hard for or even land you in jail. Identity theft is when cybercriminals use your personal information, such as credit card numbers or pictures, without your permission to commit crimes that might later be pinned on you.
Ransomware Attacks
These are one of the most used cybercrimes, and you might have already guessed what it does with the word ransom being part of it. In ransomware attacks, cybercriminals combine planting malware on your device and using it to ask for ransom. How it works is that they manipulate you into letting them install a virus on your device, one that prevents you from accessing all your personal data on it by encrypting it, and then demand a ransom to release it.
Hacking
They say data is king, but have you ever wondered why that is? It’s because data can bring whoever holds it a lot of power, and in this fight for power, hacking is a cybercrime that has increased significantly. Hacking is when cybercriminals try to gain unauthorized access to data and use it for personal or financial gain.
Internet Fraud
Internet fraud is any type of crime that uses the internet to its benefit. This can include a wide umbrella of online crimes that can include spamming, banking fraud, theft of service, and all of those that I’ve just mentioned above.
That about covers the crimes that you can fall victim to. But knowing that our people would never want to give up without a fight, let me share some ways that you can prevent these attacks from taking place.
Quick, Easy, and Practical Ways for Hispanic Homes to Prevent Cyberattacks
Being a Latino myself, I know the challenges we face each day, so I’ve tried to keep these tips as quick, easy, practical, and budget-friendly as I could. Let’s take a look Cybercrime.
Choose a Secure Internet Provider
You might not realize it, but most hackers can get their hands on your personal information if your internet network is unprotected. So, in addition to speed and reliability, you also want to assess the security measures that your potential internet provider takes.
If you’re currently looking for a recommendation, I’d suggest Cox. They’re pretty fast, consistent, and secure. Plus, they also offer bilingual assistance, so you can reach out to the Cox servicio al cliente en Español, too, if you like.
Use Strong Passwords
Whether it’s your internet password itself or the different devices you use to access the internet, you want to set a strong and random password that might be difficult to crack. A strong password normally includes both lower and upper case letters, special characters like @, and a couple of numbers.
You don’t want to stick to the same password for too long either, as it’s like giving cybercriminals extra time for a test. Keep updating them regularly to continuously make cyberattacks difficult. You might also want to consider a password manager since it can securely store and generate tough passwords to prevent misuse.
Update Your Devices
I know, updates are annoying, but be that as it may, they can be quite helpful against cyberattacks. This is because when your devices install the most recent updates, they improve their security features, which, needless to say, makes attacks difficult. This doesn’t just include your phones, tablets, or laptops; it can also include your smart home devices if you have any.
You can either do this manually by regularly checking for and installing updates yourself, or you can set your devices to update automatically. One thing you might want to do when you’re not using the internet on these devices is to turn them off, because this reduces opportunities for hackers to exploit weaknesses.
Cybercrime Awareness – The Key to Keeping Hispanic Homes Safe From Attacks
Like any other scenario, knowledge is power. The more you know about the ways hackers can put you at risk, the more ways you can think to fight back.
Whether it’s phishing, identity theft, ransomware attacks, or hacking, following the steps and practices I’ve shared above can significantly reduce the chances of you falling victim to any of them.
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