The dynamics of online threats are ever changing, and this means that your approach to protection should also change. An antivirus program alone may not be enough. With advancements in technology, malicious viruses and software programs are more prevalent today than they have ever been. Having the best antivirus program installed in all your devices has become necessary for anyone who surfs the internet. Here is why you need more than an antivirus software to ensure you remain safe, and your data is secure.
Reasons why an antivirus program is not enough
You no longer have to click to be infected.
A few years ago, all internet users had to do was avoid clicking on suspicious links or pages to avoid getting virus infections. Today, the threats have advanced to malware advertisements, where a legitimate site pulls malicious content from a fraud site. Once you visit the legitimate site, the malicious bug in the site will gain access to your computer.
Traditional antiviruses are slow in response to new threats.
According to research, traditional antivirus programs can only stop up to 50% of new zero-hour cyberattacks. Some of these programs will take hours before they can achieve the 90% level, with most of them requiring more than 24 hours to get all threats. This presents a long time for your system to go without protection.
You need to combine the use of antivirus and other safety protocols to ensure round the clock, fast protection against cyberattacks.
Why you need more than an antivirus software in modern-day
20 years ago, the computer was the only source of cyber-attacks. For this reason, antivirus programs were a reliable solution to protect yourself and your computer from cyberattacks. Kaspersky is one of good antivirus programs that would have offered all-rounded security in the past. Today, cybercriminals are using numerous other avenues to access user data, and antivirus alone is not enough.
Viruses and other malware programs are highly advanced today. It is easy for cybercriminals to use ransomware to lock you out of your computer, or even access and encrypt files in your network. These malicious programs can commandeer the device for digital coins in what is referred to as crypto-jacking.
Today, there are more internet-enabled devices than there has ever been. This gives cyber attackers multiple avenues to issue attacks. They have come up with malware programs that can attack any digital device, including smartphones, home routers, tablets, and personal computers. This includes items you may not consider as risk factors like gaming consoles, smart thermostats and even baby monitors.
In some cases, hackers have harnessed the Internet of Things (IoT) where they use the combines processing power for cyberattacks. In the last 4 years, there has been an increase in IoT attacks by at least 600%.
When using internet-enabled devices outside the house, cybercriminals can take advantage of open public Wi-Fi networks to launch attacks. With the right tools, a hacker can bypass all security protocols on a public network to gain access to your device activities. This puts at risk of hacking, identity theft and financial loss.
With all these threats, having an antivirus program alone cannot offer comprehensive security and protection.
Antivirus programs alone are a false sense of security.
If you are not cybersecurity savvy, it is easy to assume that an antivirus program is enough to keep you safe from cyberattacks. These days, attackers do not go after the firewall but the individual. They will send a malicious code on your email in a phishing scheme to lure you into clicking on it.
Every computer connected to the internet is a target to digital hackers. An antivirus program cannot do much to protect you from online predators since the threats are much more evolved. At least half the number of cyberattacks today involve the use of malware. These types of malicious programs are used for different types of attacks like credit card fraud, spreading span and accessing passwords.
Ransomware is one of the most used types of malware and was responsible for more than 300,000 attacks in 2017 in more than 150 countries. The affected were mostly people with antivirus programs installed but no other security measures in place.
What does this mean for antivirus users?
While it may seem like antivirus programs are unreliable, this is not the case. An antivirus program is still the best basic security method for any computer. However, you can boost the effectiveness of the antivirus program by upgrading your firewall and using other advanced security measures like VPN services and antimalware softwa
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).