Hackers take advantage of the weakest moments to launch computer scams and steal data. Digital threats have been immense in recent weeks, as those responsible for them take advantage of people’s concerns about the new coronavirus or Covid-19. There are many people looking for information about the disease and hackers take advantage of this to send messages with fake news. In this way, they spread a series of malware, created with the aim of stealing information, whether corporate or personal. Here are 5 tips to protect yourself from computer attacks this season!
E-mails circulating with logos from renowned institutions such as the WHO or well-known universities with supposed information about the coronavirus. Whoever opens the attached documents automatically installs a program that infects the computer. Another widely used scam has been sending a link to a video showing the construction of a hospital in China. The link automatically installs a data theft program. This practice is called Phishing. What we can recommend is that you are wary of all emails that refer to the coronavirus. Do not click on suspicious email links or download anything. Never reveal personal information by email and always delete suspicious emails from your inbox.
Do not click on any link sent by social networks and “escape” the sites with questionable appearance. Make sure your device is protected with antivirus and check that the websites you visit are protected by SSL. If you need to shop online, pay extra attention, as at this stage it is very likely that hackers will try to steal data through electronic commerce.
A network that gets hacked can be a nightmare! Control who has access to your network, using for example Multifactor Authentication. Also, create a strong password for your home network. More than ever it is not advisable to use your device in a public space, as you should not even connect to public networks.
At this stage, it is very likely that you will have to work from home. All of the above should be followed when working from home. The ideal would be to be able to use one computer for work and another for leisure. If this is not possible, we advise you to take extra care with the sites you visit and the information you leave exposed. Although you are working in your space, you must not forget that you are dealing with confidential information about your business, so you have a duty to protect it effectively!
This is the safest way to connect to your work environment and your company’s private data. Connecting via VPN allows the user to browse websites securely and privately. VPN connections are increasingly used, as they allow remote access to local files and are a safe way to browse through public Wi-Fi networks.
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