We live in a world of ever increasing connectivity, where everything is already part of the Internet and where the variety of media, increased forms of access to information, and the explosion of social networking and mobility have revolutionised our lives. The Internet has penetrated our everyday world, but has also seen the emergence of an increasingly intense phenomenon – cybercrime.
We often hear about botnets or data leaks, and millions of users have to be aware that the security of our digital lives is about to face a whole new set of threats, says Doros Hadjizenonos, sales manager for Check Point South Africa.
Thousands of threats now plague networks and cyber-attacks are being perpetrated using sophisticated tools or social engineering to achieve their ends. In this framework, events of global significance, such as large sporting and media events, are on the radars of cybercriminals, who know that fans rely more than ever on the network to access data, watch videos or visit bet pages, resulting in increased security risk.
The Internet thrives on information and media events when malware numbers tend to grow exponentially. Spam, false betting pages, fake social media profiles, and links to dangerous Web sites or malicious files that can infect computers are just some of the usual pitfalls.
The FIFA World Cup in Brazil is a clear example. Internet gambling, online ticket sales and social media tracking increase exponentially during such events. During Spain’s defeat by the Netherlands, Twitter recorded more than 8-million related tweets in just two hours.
For cybercriminals, this presents the ideal opportunity to issue more attacks with a single motive: get data and commit fraud. So it is essential to remain vigilant and not be tempted to visit strange websites or download files from unreliable sources.
With these increased security risks to our data and devices, it is more important than ever to get back to basics, with these guidelines:
* Configure your network securely and protect it with a password.
* Use a licensed antivirus solution and always keep it updated. Install a firewall.
* Do not open e-mails from unknown senders, especially if the mail does not address you directly or encourages you to click on an embedded link.
* Do not download a file without checking the source.
* Only visit Web sites that you’re sure are 100% secure. If you search “Betting Brazil World”, you will find about 1-million results – assume that many of these sites are unreliable.
* Be mindful of content, especially of Web sites with overly flashy content, or of messages with attractive subject lines.
* Enable and configure parental controls if possible. Explain security risks to and monitor the browsing habits of adolescents and children.
* All mobile operating systems, including Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows, pose their own challenges when it comes to security. Threats can come from mobile applications, browsers or unsecured Bluetooth or WiFi connections.
* Cybercriminals often create fake social network profiles. Be vigilant when accepting friend requests from supposedly famous people.
* If you find any evidence of a fake page, or believe that you have fallen victim to any form of deception on the Internet, go to http://cybercrime.org.za/reporting.
In short, be aware that cybercrime is on the increase; take precautions and be mindful that events of this magnitude are always a gateway for cybercriminals into your network.