5 types of cybersecurity threats you should know about
When criminals try to take over your digital life, it can feel like you’re in a high-tech thriller or horror movie. It has all the elements of a heart-racing film: high stakes, evil villains and an unwitting protagonist thrown into chaos. This quick guide to five types of cybersecurity threats will help protect your digital life.
Education is one of the best ways to stay protected. It helps you prepare for the worst, so you aren’t swept off your feet when hackers attack. Tap or click here for five dangerous cybersecurity mistakes you’re probably making.
Keep reading for a fun way to learn about all the scariest cyber threats of 2022.
1. Identity theft
To reflect the horrors of modern digital warfare, Surfshark crafted five movie posters. Each of these reflects the biggest cybersecurity threats of 2022. As we break them all down, try to guess which movie inspired each poster!
Check out this poster and see if it makes you think of any famous horror movies. (We’ll tell you the answer later.) This poster is about one of the most ubiquitous threats: Identity theft. It affects about one in 20 Americans each year, according to Experian.
What it is: Identity theft is when cybercriminals collect enough private data to impersonate you convincingly. They use information like your name, birth date, email address and anything else they can scrape from social media. They can commit identity theft by opening new bank accounts, applying for loans or even claiming tax refunds in your name.
Why it’s scary: Criminals can destroy your credit score or even commit crimes in your name. They can take over your online accounts by changing your password. Here’s one scary scam you should know.
How to protect yourself: Update your software and gadgets with the latest patches. Use strong and unique passwords for your online accounts. Stop oversharing personal information on social media.
The movie poster’s inspiration: “Vertigo” (1958), directed by Alfred Hitchock. If you didn’t watch the movie, spoiler alert: James Stewart falls in love with a doppelganger. The copycat theme reminded the Surfshark team of identity theft, which lets criminals create convincing copies that can trick unsuspecting people.
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these red flags. Otherwise, criminals might masquerade as you. Tap or click here for three surefire signs someone stole your identity.
Patch your Windows PC now to stamp out 50 vulnerabilities
Microsoft has rolled out another slew of fixes for Windows vulnerabilities in the June edition of Patch Tuesday. The second Tuesday of every month is when major software developers fix problems with their software.
The latest update corrects 50 security flaws. It includes six zero-day vulnerabilities and a handful that have been marked as critical or high priority. The new version of Windows might be on the horizon, but Microsoft isn’t slowing down on updates.
Android warning: Update now to avoid a serious security flaw
There are tons of reasons to use Android devices. Any Android fan can tell you that having an open-source operating system is a better choice for them over the other, more restrictive options.
That open-source platform means you not only have more app options, but you can also play amateur developer with your device. There are tons of third-party apps available for Android that aren’t available for iOS devices due to the security restrictions — and many more options for customizing your device. Tap or click here to see Android 11 features we’re most excited about.