More afraid of hacker attacks than of home invasions: 39 percent of internet users fear crime online more than in the analog world. This is the result of a survey of 1,198 people aged 16 and over in Germany, 1,016 of whom use the internet . The survey was conducted on behalf of the digital association Bitkom . According to the survey, 58 percent of the internet community do not feel able to adequately protect their devices from attacks. 63 percent also assume that they would not notice if strangers were spying on their computer or smartphone via the internet. Fears of becoming infected with malware online (75 percent) and of criminals illegally using passwords and online accounts (56 percent) are particularly high.
“To effectively defend yourself against cyberattacks, you should definitely follow some basic security measures,” advises Sebastian Artz, information security and security policy expert at Bitkom. Just three steps can help you successfully protect yourself against most attacks:
Secure passwords for every account:
Online and user accounts should be protected with strong passwords. “Assign a separate password for each online and user account and try not to chinese overseas asia database use dictionary words,” advises Artz. “Common and easily guessed keyboard patterns are also not suitable for secure passwords. Furthermore, the longer the password, the better.” However, 30 percent of internet users still use the same password for different online services. “If available, you should also protect your accounts with two-factor authentication,” says Artz. Logging in is then only possible if you first confirm your identity with the password and then with a second method – such as a fingerprint or SMS.
Be careful with emails and attachments:
“Verify the sender’s address by checking for confusing letter sequences and swapped characters,” explains Bitkom expert Artz. A typical michael dougherty pattern is replacing the letter “O” with the number “0.” Caution is also advised with unknown foreign domain addresses. “If a quick response is required, all alarm bells should ring. In any case, victims should never click on links or file attachments without thinking,” warns Artz.
Keep your operating system and software up-to-date:
Regular updates for the operating system and individual programs should be installed promptly and ideally automatically. “Manufacturers often use this to close newly discovered security vulnerabilities that could be used by cybercriminals,” says Artz.
In general, “Anyone who uses the internet should always act carefully and consider security issues . Criminals’ methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their approach is becoming increasingly professional,” explains Bitkom expert Artz.
Recently, criminals have increasingly been posing as employees of large. Software companies and pointing out alleged technical problems over the phone. They attempt to gain access to their victims’ devices or persuade them to purchase belgium numbers supposed security packages. “Users should never disclose sensitive data over the phone or allow strangers remote access to their computers. Instead, they should end the call immediately and report any suspects to the police,” says Artz.
