Protecting Yourself from Cybercrime: The Second of a Three-Part Series. Read Part One Here

According to the FBI’s 2017 Internet Crime Report, Americans reported losing more than $1.4 billion that year alone because of cybercrime¹. In particular, ransomware (malware that locks down your computer or blocks access to files until you pay a ransom) is one of the most common cybercrimes². The tips below can help you protect yourself from becoming a victim:

• Even if a link in an email looks legitimate, it can easily be disguised and contain malware. When in doubt, hover your mouse over the link. A pop up will appear showing the link address. Make sure the pop up shows the URL for the intended destination before clicking.

• To help prevent malware from infecting your computer, make sure you have an antivirus program installed and that it is up to date. Norton, Webroot, and F-Secure are among the plethora of options available. 

• Make sure to use secure websites that begin with “HTTPS” (as opposed to “HTTP”) and have a lock icon in the address bar. Websites that do not have this could contain malware.

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated every day, but they rely on people not being vigilant about potential threats, so you are still the best defense against cybercrimes! Using the best practices above and staying alert can help thwart a potential attack – saving you time, money, and stress.

Read Part Three Here