The current speed of technology development cannot leave anyone uninterested, as it has, no doubt, become a major part of everyone’s life. It has become extremely beneficial both for businesses and home users, that is why you can barely find a person, who does not use all the benefits of the Internet nowadays. The extent it has penetrated in our daily lives and the enormous amount of information we get from there every day simply cannot even be proceeded. Though, this mentioned information is not always a good thing, as the development of the Internet is tightly conjugated with the growth of cyber fraud.
Cyber fraud has occupied all the areas across the Internet. No matter what I am doing, I always need to think about my safety online. Even if I am searching for some of my basic needs, like ordering food or even sending a request to write my paper, I have to check the websites carefully in order to keep myself protected. This is specifically why the branch of Information security in the workplace has become a necessity in the modern world. It is surely the most important aspect of information technology nowadays and was primarily invented to allow businesses to reduce risk, maintain privacy and increase the reliability of their resources. So, why do we need internet security?
Basically, internet security is a branch of cybersecurity, which is connected not only with the Internet but also with the website, browser, and network. Its main purpose is to set the rules and take measures in order to prevent online hacker attacks. In terms of cybersecurity, the Internet is an extremely dangerous platform, which, in addition to that, contains a giant amount of data, and the flow of this data between different sources is under the severe threat of fraud, like phishing, viruses, worms and other types of online intrusion. Thus, by means of encryption and digital engineering internet security fights these threats and keeps the Internet safe for its users.
Apparently, there is a wide range of different ways to disturb Internet safety, which are used by cheats, though some of them have gained a lot more in popularity than others, maybe due to their higher level of effectiveness.
The most used instrument is malicious software, as it has a number of forms that may be used. For instance, the most spread one is malware, which is basically any software, which is used for disrupting computer operations to get access to the data or computer resources with the aim of theft, deletion, distortion, or substitution of information. The most dangerous thing about it is that it can be received from basically anywhere, either online websites or removable media.
Another well-known form of internet fraud is phishing, which triggers users to give out all their personal information, such as passwords and financial information. These scammers usually pretend to be some kind of trustworthy service, a bank, for example and reach you through a website or a message saying that there is something wrong with your bank account. Naturally, a person starts to panic, and this state of anxiety and helplessness is what these attackers seek. They put a link, which seems to be correct from first sight (but in fact it is not) and, when panicking, the victim can not analyze the URL or assess the legitimacy of the web page. This page leads a person to fill out an online form and giving the details of personal banking information, which will be later used to get their money.
As you can see, these types of attacks are widely spread all over the Internet, even though they are being fought against rather actively. Users have to be aware of what they are dealing with and keep in mind the fact that basically everyone can become a victim of Internet fraud. However, there are some distinctive features of a dangerous website, and all users should remember them when online.
Good news — there are efficient ways to defend yourself and prevent the intervention in your private data, from the simplest visual assessment to a complicated multistage website security check.
The first step you take when having doubts concerning the validity of the resource is its visual assessment. The most common feature of phishing sites is a somehow disturbed URL, which may not be noticed at first sight. For instance, the 1 in the original link may be changed to the letter «I» or the domain may be switched. This shows why in case of having to deal with some suspicious resource you always need to compare the link you have to the original one.
Another pretty obvious factor is the absence of the HTTPS protocol, in which «s» basically stands for «secure». Sites with an HTTP one are not that reliable, and it is easier to intercept the data from it, in comparison with the HTTPS websites. In other words, if the website works with the HTTPS protocol, the data transmission channel between the browser and the server hosting the website is securely encrypted. However, a secure connection by itself does not guarantee a reliable internet resource and not a fraudulent site, whose owner is sitting there waiting for you to give them your personal information, as cybercriminals are doing everything they can to pass off their websites as genuine.
You can always use site security scanners in order to ensure you are using a reliable resource. First of all, you should use the capabilities of the browser. Check your privacy and security settings. Most likely, the default settings will not seem reliable enough to you. Manually modify the rules and settings to suit your needs. Block pop-up notifications, turn off automatic downloads and do not consent to tracking, which may also serve as a risk factor for you. Customization options are browser-dependent, and you can always turn to the support team in case you have any doubts or difficulties.
Moreover, valid sites always have a contact list, where you can find their owners and talk to them. If there is no such thing, try to search for some reviews online. Provided you have not found any information on it, be careful — it might be fraudulent.
Check the privacy policy in the site, it is not that hard. If it does not have a privacy policy, this is a reason to doubt the authenticity of the company.
Today's criminals only need websites or email addresses that look valid to get what they need without any effort. Be careful when visiting websites, and in case of suspicion, do not drive in your data in pursuit of the promised benefits. Submit additional verification of unknown sites that want to get your banking and personal information.