The internet has made our lives much easier and we have become dependent on it for interacting, shopping, getting news and entertainment around the globe. With so many of us now connected, attackers now have an incredibly large number of targets.
The number and complexity of attacks is constantly growing. In 2022, the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) received more than 96,000 fraud records totaling more than $530M CAD in monetary losses, but the CAFC estimate that less than 5% of victims of fraud report their event to the CAFC. That means the losses are much higher.
As you navigate the internet, it is important to understand where the risks exist and what you can do to protect yourself.
Where the danger lies
Most attacks have one thing in common: deception. Attackers rely heavily on deceiving victims to get them to take action.
Cybercriminals are looking for data and personal information that they can use to exploit for financial gain or to conduct other criminal activity.
They use a number of different ways to get access to your information or get you to take an action that could be dangerous:
Malware and viruses are malicious programs that are downloaded which can cause serious harm by destroying data, stealing personal information or locking a device and/or data for ransom.
Unsafe web sites or stores are pages on the Internet that may look legitimate, but are intended to deceive visitors in order to steal personal data, financial information or conduct fraudulent transactions.
Pop-ups are small windows that open automatically on some websites, partially or fully blocking your view. They usually display advertising and can be dangerous if you click on them.
Spyware is software that collects and sends information from your computer without your permission or knowledge.
Cookies are small pieces of information about you, such as what you did on a website. They are usually not a high risk but they can store private information so you should delete them often, especially if you are sharing or using a public computer.
Protecting yourself when browsing and shopping
While cybercriminals have many tricks up their sleeves, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself:
Check the web link
If you are visiting a web site that is new and not one you trust, then look close to ensure it is safe. Look closely to the left of the URL for a locked padlock. If it is not locked then the website’s data is not secure. Also, check for typos or errors in the address bar and look at the images or logos to see if they look blurry or distorted.
Don’t be quick to download
Malware often comes hidden in downloads so it is important to be careful. Only use official app stores and web sites to download apps, updates and modifications. Just because a web site recommends it, does not mean it is safe.
Be careful of pop-ups
Be cautious of surveys, unexpected offers, warnings or other pop-ups. They are often selling something or trying to goad you in to clicking on another site or downloading software to remove malware. Avoid clicking anything, even to close. To close them, got to the system tray area and close with a right mouse click. Use a pop-up blocker or the settings in your browser.
Get rid of spyware and cookies
Regularly scan your systems for spyware and delete it. If you use a public device be sure to delete your cookies and cache as soon as you are done.
Keep operating systems and browsers up to date
If software is not kept up to date, attackers can leverage known vulnerabilities. Keep these up to date and use the auto update function to make it easier.
Use strict security settings on your browser
Browsers have security settings (e.g.: privacy, password saving, popups, cookies) which, when set correctly provide a first layer of protection. Be sure to review these and set them to higher settings to optimize your security.
Additional insight to help protect you
To learn more about how you can protect yourself online we encourage you to read our other articles and articles from GetCyberSafe.ca
plus visit Bell.ca/security for more in depth information.
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