When we talk about the crime trends in the UK, you’d be surprised to know that cybercrime has been at the top of the list for a while now. During the pandemic, crime rates were becoming substantially lower, with the only ones being minor drug offences and anti-social crimes.
Fast-forward 3 years, cyber crime is at an all-time high in the UK. Various reports show that cyber criminals and internet fraudsters stole more than £4 billion in 2022 alone, and that says something.
So what is cybercrime, and how do you prevent yourself from being its next victim?
That’s what we’re going to dive into today, so make sure to read till the end, and protect yourself from the next cyber attack on your technological devices!
Defining Cyber Crime
Cybercrime is a word that might seem something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s becoming a problem in the modern world. In essence, cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves computers, networks, or the internet.
From stealing personal information to hacking into systems, cybercriminals use a variety of tactics to carry out their malicious intentions.
It’s important to stay informed about cybercrime and take steps to protect yourself online, whether it’s using strong passwords or being mindful of suspicious emails.
With technology advancing at a lightning pace, cybercrime is only going to become more prevalent, so it’s up to each of us to be vigilant and stay one step ahead of the bad guys.
What Are The Different Types Of Cyber Crime?
As technology gets more and more advanced, so do the cheeky hackers that are sitting on their computers, finding new entry points into complex systems that we didn’t know existed.
There’s an innumerable amount of cyber crime types on the internet, but to make this guide short and easy, we’ll explain a few as follows:
- Phishing: A deceptive trick where hackers use fake websites, emails and messages to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or personal data.
- Malware: Short for malicious software that is designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems.
- Identity Theft: In the virtual world, criminals can assume your complete identity, and wreak havoc on your finances, reputation, and peace of mind without you having the slightest bit of idea.
- Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying inflicts emotional distress through digital means, involving the use of technology to harass, intimidate, or humiliate others.
- Online Scams: This is the realm of digital con artists, where cybercriminals employ deceitful tactics to dupe innocent victims.
- Data Breaches: Data breaches occur when cybercriminals gain unauthorised access to sensitive information stored by organisations. These breaches can lead to the exposure of personal data, financial details, or trade secrets.
Protecting Yourself – Essential Guidelines
Knowing how to protect yourself online will let you bounce off a lot of cyber problems that will make you miserable, and that’s why we stress the importance of cybercrime protection.
The golden age of the internet has given us ease and functionality in managing and using our data, but this comes with a lot of complications, especially when it comes to safeguarding this data from hackers and malicious users on the internet.
However, that’s what we’re here for. The following are some important guidelines for you to follow, to ensure that you and your data and information are safe on the internet:
- Use strong passwords: Make sure to not use easily-crackable passwords, and use a password manager like LastPass to manage your passwords.
- Be mindful of the websites you visit: Always keep an eye out for suspicious URLs. If they don’t look legitimate, leave immediately!
- Regularly check your bank statements: Check your bank statements regularly to see if any unauthorised transactions have been made, and notify your bank accordingly if that’s the case.
- Update your operating systems: Latest operating systems are less prone to being invaded by hackers, which is why you should always keep your OS updated.
- Use anti-virus software: Anti-virus software allows you to scan, detect and remove threats before they become a problem, allowing you to evade malware, trojan horses, viruses and more.
Bottom Line
Technology sure has progressed over the years, but that also increases the risk of cyber-attacks and crimes on the internet. That will always be the case unless you’re making an effort to reduce these threats to a minimum.
The guide above explains how cyber crime can be a problem for you, and as an added, we’ve also discussed how you can evade these threats, and live a tension-free life!
