Cyber Scams To Look Out For In 2022
Our Saskatoon IT Tips are from the Trusted professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions. We promise to have a one-hour response time for all your Saskatoon IT support needs. Honesty and respect are important to us. In our latest IT Expert tip Article, Gareth shares cyber scams to look out for in 2022.
Although many cyber scams remain similar from year to year, there are certain trends to be aware of in 2022. Cyber criminals are always seeking new methods of attack. The following are cyber scams to look out for this year.
Phishing 
Phishing is an attack where the scammer attempts to trick the victim into clicking on a malicious link, downloading malware, or sharing personal or sensitive information. Phishing attacks can be found anywhere including via telephone, email, text, or social media platforms. No matter where you are online, always keep an eye out for phishing.
To protect yourself against phishing this year, it is necessary to know what to look for. This includes threatening language, strange links, or email addresses that do not match the sender. A trusted, legitimate source such as a bank would never ask you to share personal information via text message.
Automated Attacks
Automated attacks remain a concerning cyber scam this year. Without strong account security, bots are able to hack accounts by guessing the password.
Using a secure password will ensure it is difficult for cyber criminals to gain access to accounts and personal information. Some guidelines for a strong password are:
- All passwords should be at least 16 characters or more. Longer passwords are more secure than shorter ones.
- All passwords should involve a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Different passwords should be used for each account.
- Passwords should never include personal information, or any information that could potentially be accessed through social media such as the names of your children or pets.
- Passwords should never contain any consecutive letters or numbers.
Besides a strong password, another way to secure accounts is by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Using an authenticator such as a fingerprint adds an additional layer of protection. Enabling MFA only requires one extra step when logging in, but can save you the headache of having an account compromised.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a form of malware or malicious software that encrypts files. During a ransomware attack, the attacker or cybercriminal locks access to the victim’s files, and demands a ransom (payment) to restore access to the files. Ransom costs are often thousands of dollars and are payable to cybercriminals in the form of Bitcoin. Even if you do pay the ransom, cyber criminals may proceed to delete your files permanently. Paying even once makes you a target, running the risk of ending up on the cyber criminal’s list as likely to pay again.
To protect yourself, always keep files in a secure location such as the cloud or a portable hard drive. Be proactive and back up your files in advance. That way, you are prepared in the event of a ransomware attack. File backup is a critical step and ensures you always have access to your files if they become compromised, without having to pay the ransom.
Cryptocurrency 
Cyptocurrency is a type of currency that uses digital files as money. As cryptocurrency increases in popularity, so do scams associated with it. Similar to other online scams, scams involving cryptocurrency seek your personal information in order to access your digital assets.
Most people think cryptocurrency is a safer alternative to regular money. However, this is not necessarily the case. If you own cryptocurrency, you must be particularly wary of signs of phishing and other cyber scams. Cyber criminals may attempt to trick you into expanding your investment.
Stay safe online by keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Always be sure your accounts are set up with secure passwords, and that all files are backed up. Regardless of changing scam trends, cyber security is crucial for protection.
If you have any questions regarding cyber security and how we can help secure your data, contact the IT experts at Burnt Orange IT Solutions. We can help your business mitigate risk, and be prepared for any IT-related emergency.
We hope this article gave you some insight. If you want to ensure your business’s IT security, contact the Trusted Saskatoon IT professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions and we can take IT worries off your plate.
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