Many people have heard of internet piracy, but most people don't know everything about it. There are myths out there regarding internet piracy, and it might be a good idea to address them so that you can prepare. The following are some myths that may help you stay safer while you're online.
Everything is Pirated
This is not true though most people believe everything is pirated. The folks who pirate content don't have enough space to pirate everything produced.
Online pirates are picky; they have a finite amount of space, so they usually target popular content rather than obscure content. The next time someone says this to you, you can say that isn't true.
Torrent Sites are Always Safe
People don't always consider the safety of torrent sites. Someone might think a site is okay because there's a lot of chatter online about the site being safe. The truth is these sites aren't always as safe as users think.
Some sites focus on luring folks in. After that, you're easy prey for online pirates. Your data is in jeopardy when you visit certain sites, which is why cybersecurity is so important. Some sites may even hack into folks CPUs and use them to mine cryptocurrency. People should be careful on the web including popular torrent sites.
VPN is all you Need
It's easy to think that all you need is a VPN, but that's not the case. There are a lot of folks who think VPNs are foolproof, but they aren't. VPNs are vulnerable because people can still make mistakes.
The providers themselves could make you vulnerable with just one mistake, and that's worth noting. Yes, the better your VPN service is, the safer you'll be, but remember that this should just be one line of defense. You need to fight in several ways if you're worried about online piracy, so be sure to invest in everything you need for cybersecurity.
Mostly Young People
People often think that young people are the main ones using pirated content, but that's not the case. A chunk of the population uses pirated content all the time. The person using this type of content could be your neighbor or that nice person you met at the café.
It's kind of crazy to think that so many people use this type of content, but it's free. For many services, to gain access to their content you must pay, and this can overwhelm some people. The internet has always provided free content, so watching pirated content doesn't seem like such a big deal to many.
The Poor Pirate
People might think poor people are one of the biggest groups that uses pirated content. Well, a number of people who use this type of content might do so because they can't afford to pay for it, but that's not everyone. People from all classes use this type of content, so it doesn't matter if you have money or not.
Some of the folks who use this content are paying for content sometimes. They own entertainment or gaming subscriptions, yet they still use pirated content. Maybe they do it to gain access to content earlier than others, or maybe they don't even think about it all that much.
Bought it so can Pirate
People sometimes think it's okay to use pirated content because they own the original. Maybe you own a certain movie or CD. One day you can't find your CD, so you download a pirated version of the song you want to hear.
You paid for what you own, not for what you download. They are different even if they're the same content. Many people try to use this as a loophole, but it doesn't give you a pass.
Bad For Sales
This myth is a strange one because it works both ways. Yes, sales do suffer because of piracy, but companies also profit off of this. A lot of people use pirated content, and when they find something they absolutely love, they buy that content.
There's evidence that supports both cases, which is the reason pirated content and large content producers have a strange relationship with each other. It's not simply black and white even if the law is clear about who's right and who's wrong.
Hopefully, this information helps you see piracy a little more clearly. It's a complex subject that you should understand so that you aren't only safe but know how to approach it if you ever need to discuss it or vote on it.
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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).