October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)!
Protecting yourself online is not a choice but a compulsory action that each one of us must take. Protecting your identity, data, and devices is critical in today’s world as we are living a 24*7 digital life.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month, now in its eighteenth year, encourages individuals, businesses, and institutions to take time to educate themselves about cyber risks and online safety practices.
Why is cyber security awareness important?
We all are at a risk of cyber-attack. When we are aware, it means we understand what a cyber threat is, where it can come from, the impact of an attack to the business we do, and the steps required to reduce the risk to prevent cyber-crime.
Where do cyber-attacks come from?
- Malicious email attachments
- Malicious software programmes
- Password attacks
- File format exploits
- Fake voice calls/messages
- Sharing personal information
Types of cyber threats:
Let’s read about some of the most common types of cyber-attacks:
- Malware: It is a type of software program that is designed to intentionally harm a computer, network, client, or server.
- Phishing: It is a form of fraud often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers by using email or other form of electronic communications.
- Password Attack: This simply refer to your password being stolen by a hacker which is used to maliciously authenticate into password-protected accounts.
- Net Banking/ ATM frauds: This a fraudulent activity where the criminal uses the ATM card of another person to withdraw money instantly from that account. This is done by using the PIN.
- Identity Fraud: Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personal identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
- Social Media Fraud: The most reported and seen crimes that occur on social media involve people making threats, bullying, harassing, and stalking others online. Fake profiles often spam legitimate users, posting inappropriate or illegal content.
Ways to protect yourself against cyberattacks:
- Use strong passwords that should be of eight characters (including a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols)
- Keep software security up to date
- Enable multi-factor authentication and use a VPN
- Be careful when sharing your personal details over the internet via e-mail or job portal
- Never share bank details with anyone including PIN, CVV and OTP
- Be careful when accepting unknown friend requests on social media and avoid sharing personal details on social sites
How can NASSCOM help in cybersecurity awareness?
- NASSCOM Community: Read about ways to stay safe and latest information on cyber security at https://community.nasscom.in/communities/cyber-security-privacy
- Courses at Future Skills Prime: Learn courses on cyber security awareness at our e-learning portal https://futureskillsprime.in/course/cyber-security-essentials
