Last Christmas, many WhatsApp users were targeted by a disturbing phishing campaign, with cybercriminals impersonating some of the victim's contacts to create a false sense of security and gain access to their personal data.
The severity of this attack was a result of the popularity of social networking apps, as once a profile is compromised, their entire contact list is compromised.
Consequently, it is important for every user to be aware of the latest cyber threats, not only to keep themselves safe but also those they come in contact with, both personally and professionally.
That's why, on World Friendship Day, a day set aside to think about others, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a global cybersecurity solutions provider, wants to warn users about the dangers and give three key tips to stay safe online.
It is important to note that the risks are not limited to a single social media platform and that attackers will exploit any security breach to gain access to personal information.
For example, many phishing campaigns are distributed via email, soliciting reset Password. As many users rely on the same password across all their online accounts, once a hacker obtains those credentials, all those accounts using the same login information are at risk. Moreover, all your contacts on these accounts are now at the mercy of the hacker.
The same is true if a hacker manages to perform a SIM swap, a technique by which, through a phishing attack, they use stolen data to copy a mobile SIM card, providing access to the victim's entire online profile.
If this happens, all the contacts on that phone are available to hackers to send phishing messages or emails with malware to commit financial theft or extort credentials to gain access to their contacts as well, creating a domino effect.
Three important tips to strengthen your cyber security
• Protect your passwords: Ο καλύτερος τρόπος για να προστατεύσουμε τον εαυτό μας, τους φίλους και την οικογένειά μας από μια αλυσιδωτή κυβερνοεπίθεση είναι να δημιουργήσουμε ισχυρούς κωδικούς πρόσβασης αποφεύγοντας τους κλασικούς όπως “123456” ή “password” και χρησιμοποιώντας διαφορετικούς συνδυασμούς για κάθε πλατφόρμα, ώστε να εμποδίσουμε τους κυβερνοεγκληματίες να έχουν πρόσβαση σε περισσότερους από έναν λογαριασμούς. Συνιστάται επίσης να αλλάζετε αυτούς τους κωδικούς πρόσβασης ανά τακτά χρονικά διαστήματα για να είστε ακόμη πιο ασφαλείς. Είναι επίσης συνετό να εξετάσετε το ενδεχόμενο εφαρμογής ελέγχου ταυτότητας δύο factors.
• Stay updated: The intense pressure of everyday life can make us all more prone to accidentally clicking on a link or falling victim to a scam. So, whenever you receive an email or text from an unknown sender, take a minute and look for any signs that it could be malicious. For example, incorrect grammar or whatever language that tries to tempt you into making a hasty decision. If in doubt, do not click on links and go directly to the official website that may have been imitated.
• Study the new threats: Cybercriminals are becoming more and more creative in how they try to attack accounts. This means that users need to stay aware of cyber-attack campaigns so that they don't fall victim to the latest trends. Remember to check news and cyber security websites to stay up to date on any new approaches so that the next time you receive a malicious message, it's already in the back of your mind.
With these simple tips it will be easier to avoid a possible attack and not to put your loved ones in danger.
"Celebrating World Friendship Day with our friends, it's a good opportunity to think about what we can do to keep them safe online," says Konstantina Koukou, Channel Account Manager, Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd.
“Often, when one of our social media accounts or one of our devices gets hacked, we only think about ourselves. Today should serve as a reminder to everyone that when we fall victim to an attack, it automatically puts all our contacts at risk, so proper communication is important. It's not about assigning blame, but more of an opportunity to think about what we can do to keep our friends, family and colleagues safe online.”
