You probably wouldn’t leave your home unlocked, but if you’re not practicing good cybersecurity, you may be leaving the door wide open for hackers. With the threat of identity theft, online scams, and malware growing, individuals and families need to take basic steps to safeguard their personal information, devices, and online activities. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a good time to ensure you’re doing everything you can to stay safe.
Cybersecurity for Families and Individuals
Cybercrime is rampant. Individuals and families are often targets. According to the 2023 Internet Crime Report, the FBI received 880,418 complaints of cybercrime in 2023, with losses totaling $12.5 billion. As not all cybercrime victims report to the FBI, the true extent of the problem is likely much greater than what these figures indicate.
Common Cyber Threats to Individuals and Families
According to the FBI, phishing is the most common type of cybercrime, with 298,878 complaints received in 2023 alone. Cybercriminals use spoofed emails and text messages to trick victims into clicking on malicious links or providing their passwords. Once this happens, cybercriminals may be able to access accounts, including bank accounts. Other scams (including investment, tech, and romance cons) are also common. Individuals may also fall victim to ransomware and other types of malware that infect computers.
Scams are constantly evolving, but there are a few tactics that scammers have been using recently:
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Wrong number scams. Someone sends a text message to your number, but the message appears to be for someone else. You tell the sender he or she has the wrong number. The sender apologizes but then continues to chat. This is all intended to lower your defenses and earn your trust before the sender scams you. According to San Francisco Chronicle, a man lost $260,000 in a crypto texting scam that started with what appeared to be a wrong number text. The scammer eventually tricked the victim into investing in crypto. By showing the victim a fake account that made it look like the initial investments were performing well, the scammer convinced the victim to make additional investments – a common tactic known as pig butchering.
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Suspicious activity scams. Scammers posing as a bank or other trusted company tell a victim that they have detected suspicious activity on the victim’s account. This is a ploy to trick the victim into handing over login information to enable the scammer to drain the victim’s bank account. According to FOX31 Denver KDVR, a man lost $137,130 to scammers posing as Chase Bank. The scammers already had the man’s account number and balance, which made it easy for them to convince him that they were with the fraud team at the bank. Once they got a one-time passcode from the victim, they were able to drain his account.
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Blackmail scams. Cybercriminals may claim to have embarrassing browser history or photographs from your phone. They threaten to share this unless you pay them. According to CBS News, these scammers typically don’t have the information they claim to have, meaning victims should have no concerns about ignoring and reporting the messages. However, scammers may use romance scams to convince victims to send explicit photos of themselves and then use these photos to blackmail the victims.
Online Safety Tips for Protecting Personal Information
The internet is sometimes a scary place, but you can take steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
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Discuss phishing scams and other threats. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to spot and avoid various scams, including wrong number, investment, romance, and phishing scams. Follow the FTC’s Consumer Alerts to stay up to date about new scams.
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Never respond to suspicious messages or click on links. Many spoofed messages are realistic. If you think the message may be legitimate, contact the organization directly. Do not use the number provided in the message!
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Educate your children. Some scammers and predators go after children. In particular, minors are frequently the victims of sextortion scams. Protect your children by educating them and monitoring their online activity.
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Create a family password. Scammers have been using voice clone technology to pose as family members. They may claim to be a relative in need of money or to have kidnapped your loved one. Agree on a way to confirm your identity, such as a family password.
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Develop a family cybersecurity plan. If someone in your family is scammed or if a family member’s information may have been compromised, it’s important to know what to do next. Depending on the nature of the incident, you may need to change your passwords, call your bank, or report the scam to the authorities.
Home Network Security Tips
In addition to savvy online habits, it’s important to keep your internet access secure.
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Use strong passwords for your Wi-Fi network, devices, and accounts. Don’t use the default password and avoid reusing passwords. Change your passwords after any breach or suspicious activity.
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Add multifactor authentication. If your password is leaked, multifactor authentication will provide another layer of defense, making it harder for scammers to access your accounts.
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Remember smart home security. Scammers can also hack smart security systems, baby monitors, and other internet-connected devices, meaning these also need secure settings and strong passwords.
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Leverage firewalls and anti-virus software. These programs stop many (but not all) attacks.
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Update your programs. Since updates often fix vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, you should apply them as soon as they become available.
The Benefits of Personal Cyber Insurance
Personal cyber insurance provides coverage against identity theft, ransomware, phishing, online scams, and other cyberattacks. Coverage may also include access to cybersecurity experts to help you stay safe. Although personal cyber insurance does not eliminate the need for safe online practices, it does provide another layer of financial protection.
If everyone practices good cybersecurity, we make it difficult for the scammers trying to prey on individuals and families. Take steps to keep yourself and your family safe, including exploring your personal cyber insurance options with our agency.
