Cyber Crime knowing is understanding

Businesses are increasingly the victims of cyber attacks. These crimes are not only costly for the companies, but can also put their very existence at riskand may provoke significant externalities for third parties. Cyber crime is described “as arguably the top systemic threat facing global financial marketsand associated infrastructure.” Business worldwide will suffer from the onslaught of cyber criminals. Not a day goes by when some new scam or way ofaccessing personal data or financial information is reported.

BWNF will report and keep members up to date on activities and fraudulent actions likely to have an impact on your business. Cyber crime is not limited tothe financial sector it is a crime against all businesses and people worldwide. A multitude of companies of different sizes and across sectors incur lossesas a result of this type of crime. Companies often don’t know that they have been victims of cyber attacks, and if they do know it, they are reluctant todisclose such intrusions” because they fear this might damage their reputations or cause them to lose face.

Why should you be a victim? BWNF has resources to assist and identify certain cyber crime activities and will endeavour to let you the business ownersknow of these criminals. The fact that businesses are becoming more and more tech-dependent and interconnected adds to an increased cyber crimepresence. In addition, cyber criminals are more sophisticated than ever as the cost of equipment has fallen significantly in recent years, hence allowing anew generation of cyber criminals – often based in emerging countries – to develop elaborate attacks that circumvent cutting-edge cyber-security systems. However vigilance, planning and knowledge play a key factor in protecting your business data and personal information against the cyber criminals of thisworld.

What is cyber crime? BWNF Explains

Cybercrime is criminal activity that is carried out by using computers and the Internet. This includes anything from downloading illegal music files tostealing millions of pounds from online bank accounts. Cybercrime also includes non-monetary offences, such as creating and distributing viruses onother computers or posting confidential business information on the Internet. Many are victims of this offence and find out once it is too late. Prevention isby far better than the cure, awareness and being very diligent in all online activities will go a long way to combating this crime.Perhaps the most prominent form of cybercrime is identity theft, in which criminals use the Internet to steal personal information from other users. Two ofthe most common ways this is done is through phishing and pharming, what is this?

Both of these methods lure users to fake websites (that appear to be legitimate), where they are asked to enter personal information. This includes logininformation, such as usernames and passwords, phone numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and other informationcriminals can use to “steal” another person’s identity. Hard to believe that people fall for dummy web sites and give information freely but it happens.

For example EBay is a classic way some cyber criminals attack peoples identity, they create emails such as this well know trick Ebay@ehay.com for theuneducated they read EBay give up login and names to find out 3 days later their accounts have been compromised.For this reason, it is smart to always check the URL or Web address of a site to make sure it is legitimate before entering your personal information.Online verification services are available just Google search engine “Check URL hosting”

Because cybercrime covers such a broad scope of criminal activity, the examples above are only a few of the thousands of crimes that are consideredcybercrimes. While computers and the Internet have made our lives easier in many ways, it is unfortunate that people also use these technologies to takeadvantage of others.

Therefore, it is smart to protect yourself by using antivirus and spyware blocking software and being careful where you enter your personal information.Change passwords on all email accounts regularly, never give credit card details to a site you cannot verify, simple actions that can help deter thesickening feeling you get when your world is hacked!