When it comes to online privacy, some of the key threats we face have become familiar terms. Most of us now know what phishing is and have heard that spyware could be hiding in the shadows, but there are plenty of new and emerging threats that haven’t yet had their share of publicity. From WebRTC leaks to IP spoofing, lesser-known threats can pose a serious threat to your privacy online and there are plenty that you should be aware of. This article will identify what some of the most important ones are, as well as offering advice on how to protect yourself against them.
Threat #1: WebRTC leaks
What is it? WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an open source tool that allows browsers to form real-time connections with websites. It is particularly useful with audio and video apps – making them run more smoothly and without the need for plug-ins.
If you’re using a VPN (virtual private network) to browse privately, you may not be aware that in some browsers, WebRTC works outside of that VPN. This means your IP address may be visible to third parties despite the protection you thought you had in place.
How do I protect myself?
First, run a WebRTC leak checker to see if your IP is visible. While some web browsers have settings or third-party extensions which allow you to prevent WebRTC leaks, most of the fixes include turning off WebRTC entirely. Unfortunately, this means you won’t be able to use online services such as Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger that need it in order to function.
The ideal fix is to use a quality VPN which ensures you don’t leak your IP address even if WebRTC is running, either by including built-in leak protection or a kill switch that can cut your connection if data is put at risk of exposure.
Threat #2: IP spoofing
What is it? IP spoofing sees an attacker ‘impersonate’ another machine by manipulating its IP address. The method is quite technical and involves the attacker modifying the packet header with a forged or spoofed source IP address, a checksum and the order value. IP spoofing is used to carry out attacks such as Service Denial and Man-in-The-Middle (MITM) attacks.
A MITM IP spoof could be anything from simply reading your emails to intercepting and amending data, so that a payment goes to the hacker’s account instead of yours.
How do I protect myself? There are a few methods to reduce your vulnerability to IP spoofing, but many are designed for large business networks who can block private IPs and restrict access to only authenticated parties. For a home user simply trying to surf the internet, it can all feel a bit complicated.
Two handy tools for reducing the risk of IP spoofing are two-factor authentication (2FA) setups and the aforementioned VPN. 2FA means that if a third party does use a modified IP to try and access your files and data, they’ll still be blocked by the need to enter secondary authentication, such as a numerical pin or password. A VPN can help by not only hiding your IP address entirely, but also adding end-to-end encryption to your data so that it can’t be intercepted and modified.
Threat #3: Drive-by downloads
What is it? The unintentional download of malicious code to a device that makes you vulnerable to attack. Drive-by downloads are named as such because victims don’t need to click or download anything accidentally for the attack to work. Attackers take advantage of un-updated apps, operating systems or web browsers which have security flaws.
This may seem like more of a security issue than a privacy issue, but a drive-by download can install spyware on your device – leaving you tracked by a keylogger or browser hijacker, among other things.
How do I protect myself?
- Be cautious of using obscure, unofficial looking websites and stick to trusted sources
- Update your apps and operating system
- Invest in antivirus and keep it up to date
- Use an ad-blocker, as attackers often use online ads to transfer viruses
- Audit your apps. You may have software that poses threats, which you either don’t use anymore or didn’t even know you had.
Threat #4: Unpatched software
What is it? Unpatched simply means not up to date. The key to this threat is that software updates generally include new patches for holes that have been identified in device security. From the moment the updates are released, hackers can reverse-engineer attacks based on those new security measures.
Sometimes it feels like everything from your phone’s operating system to your antivirus needs constant updates, but it’s for good reason. Technology evolves quickly and what protects you today may not be able to protect you tomorrow.
How do I protect myself?
Always allow software to update when requested. It can also be worth fully booting down your device every so often to make sure updates happen, but whatever you do, don’t just snooze new update alerts or avoid them altogether.
Threat #5: Pharming
What is it? Similar to phishing, this complicated attack manipulates a website’s traffic to steal confidential information. A website is hacked and traffic is diverted to a fake or imposter site that then deploys malware on the user’s machine, or harvests personal and financial information.
How do I protect myself?
Install good quality anti-malware and antivirus software and keep it up to date. Also, get smart about computing practices; avoid suspicious websites and never click on links in emails from unknown sources.
Even when you’re visiting what seem to be familiar sites, be aware of any unusual changes. If a site starts asking for information that it doesn’t usually request, or displays as HTTP when it’s usually HTTPS, think twice before entering personal details.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).