When you think about how a hacker could get hold of your information, what data storage methods come to mind? Probably cloud storage or email centers like Gmail, right?
But hackers aren’t always so prominent. They can use less traditional ways to get their hands on your data as long as it’s stored digitally.
Some sneaky hackers are now adopting techniques that would have been unheard of not too long ago.
This article talks about how hackers can obtain your data and how these methods have changed since the rise of digital technology. We will also cover solutions that fit any data protection needs to keep businesses and consumers safe.
Keep reading to learn more about how hackers could be accessing your information.
The Ways Hackers Change The Data Storage Rules
Nowadays, the hacker world has changed a lot. The years when it was easy to find poorly protected login pages and databases are long gone. Online criminals today have their work area organized carefully and professionally.
Now ‘hacktivists’ and more professional cybercriminals are motivated by different things: ideology and finances. They do not need any password/hacking tool to hack your email account anymore or read your emails or other correspondence; now, they can infect your computer or smartphone with malware that will search for all this information.
Social engineering is an incredibly effective way to obtain confidential information from you. This is when a hacker tricks you into revealing your password or other data storage details.
They do this by getting in touch with you, pretending to be someone trustworthy – such as customer support. Then they ask for your personal information, which they can use to gain access to your accounts and steal your data.
This attack can happen over the phone, in writing, or via email/chat messenger. Hackers even manage to get hold of customers’ private information through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
2. Ransomware
Ransomware is when a hacker locks or encrypts your data and then holds it “hostage.” These attacks are growing in prevalence and severity, resulting in severe data loss and recovery costs.
They demand that you pay them to regain access.
Some hackers use ransomware as their method of choice because it can earn them big money. However, they will also likely benefit from the ransom itself, as many hackers demand these payments be made via Bitcoin or another anonymous cryptocurrency. Plus, as long as governments don’t ban this kind of payment, it seems that ransomware attacks aren’t going away anytime soon.
Related: 10 Types Of Hackers To Be Aware Of In 2022
3. Mobile attacks
Attacks from mobile devices are also on the rise. The number of cyber threats targeting mobile devices has almost tripled since 2016.
The good news is that these threats aren’t all that complex – most simply use text messages to spread malware and other dangerous software. However, we’ve also seen mobile ransomware that can lock your important files and attempts to steal personal information through phishing websites.
What can you do to prevent hackers from accessing your data?
It’s essential to know how much personal information you share online. Don’t think it doesn’t matter because it ends up on “secure” sites.
Hackers can go anywhere and find ways to access your data; sometimes, they don’t even have to break in. They need your username, password, and other details that you have provided online.
1. Use strong, unique passwords
When you start using a new account, set up robust security for a minute, avoid using the same password for more than one account (duh), and don’t even think about keeping your passwords on a post-it note stuck to your computer monitor. Instead, use a password manager like
LastPass or 1Password. These password managers will generate new, incredibly secure passwords for you and then remember them so that you never have to – even if you use the
same one across your different accounts.
Hacktivists are primarily interested in stealing your personal information on social media accounts (like Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks) and email (Gmail, Yahoo, and other email services). So if you haven’t contacted them yet, don’t. The more time you spend online
where hackers can find you, the more of your personal information is at risk.
3. Don’t click on links from strangers
It might seem like a good idea to click a link that someone sends you in an email or over messenger apps – but that could be a mistake! Hackers can exploit these kinds of links by placing malicious code on websites. Next, you click the link and download malware onto your
computer or another device. And because it was a “click-bait” link, you were tricked into doing it!
4. Protect your PC
Install antivirus software and make sure you keep it up to date. If your computer has this protection, detecting and removing viruses will be easier before they can do any damage.
There are plenty of free antivirus programs out there. Still, for extra protection, we recommend getting Malwarebytes Premium – a highly efficient anti-malware solution that can detect and remove even the most sophisticated malware from your system.
5. Be careful what you download
If you visit shady websites, you will probably end up downloading files to your computer. That’s why it’s essential to know what kind of data and files are on your device.
That way, if you come across some weird file that you didn’t know was on there, you can check to see if it’s safe or not before opening it. There are plenty of websites where people put up software they’ve created –
but remember that the internet is also home to plenty of viruses and other malware.
Final Thought
Digital transformation risks are still getting more severe as time goes on because there are more connected networks and applications in use today compared to a few years ago.
Thankfully, there are some practical ways to protect yourself from these digital threats: backup solutions, two-factor authentication, and firewalls are just a few ways to keep your data safe.
Although the hackers haven’t yet reached the stage where they can prevent us from using digital technology, we still have to stay vigilant regarding our data storage.
Fortunately, with these solutions in place, we can continue to live in the digital world without worrying about how a cyber-attack could affect us.
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