According to the article on the US Department of State website, the FBI said that over $4 billion was stolen through cybercrime across the United States in 2020. Three years later, that number went up to $12.2 billion. That data alone is enough to justify how cybercriminals are becoming more advanced and creative in stealing data and information. It’s the main reason why online safety and education are more important than ever.
That’s the simple answer, but there’s actually more to it than that. Having reputable internet providers may help increase security, but it’s not enough to keep you safe online. Here are several reasons why you should take online safety more seriously:
- Everyone’s a Target
You don’t have to be a child, a millionaire, or an elderly to become a target of cyber crime. Nowadays, everyone is a target. As we’ve mentioned, cyber criminals are becoming more creative in doing their crimes, so it’s easier for us to fall for their tricks without actually even knowing we’re already victims. While this is very alarming, we should grab this opportunity to educate ourselves so we can prevent this from happening to us.
Even though our wireless providers have already set some security features in place, we shouldn’t be complacent because it’s not enough too fully protect you from these opportunistic cyber criminals.
- Fake News Are Becoming the Norm
The spread of misinformation online has become so common that it’s becoming a new norm. These fabricated stories, as simple as they may seem, can have serious consequences that can manipulate public opinion. This isn’t something that can be fixed with software or a tool though. You need to have critical thinking skills to verify sketchy information you see online. You need to know the reputable websites you can go to when fact-checking.
With this, you’ll understand that it goes beyond having a VPN, anti-virus software, and a reputable internet provider like Boost Infinite to keep yourself safe online. You need to have the proper online safety knowledge.
- It Goes Beyond Money
Gone are the days when cyber criminals only go after money. As their techniques have become more sophisticated, so do their targets. Some of the most common ways they exploit people include identity theft, data breaches, and even privacy violations. To give you an idea of what each means, we’ll briefly explain them. Criminals can steal your personal information like your name, Social Security Number, and credit card details. They can use this information to commit other crimes.
Data breaches and privacy violations can be a bit challenging to spot but basically, for data breaches, companies and organizations can be hacked, exposing personal data like passwords or medical records. This information can then be sold on the black market or used for targeted attacks. For privacy violations, our online activities are constantly tracked by companies and websites, which are often used in targeted advertising or even sold to third parties.
The Bottom Line
SInce our lives are mostly revolving around the web, it’s very important for us to have basic online safety knowledge to protect ourselves from criminals. And it’s not just a one-time thing – their strategies and wrongdoings also change with time, so it’s crucial to be updated at all times so that you can reduce the risk of being a cybercrime victim. Let’s all work together to make our digital space safer.
