CYBERCRIMES ARE RISING: How To Protect Yourself?
Cybercrime isn’t just “rising”; it’s becoming an economy bigger than most countries. By the end of 2025, global cybercrime costs are projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually.
If you think, “I’m nobody, why would they hack me?” , Congratulations , You are already a victim. You are data. You are a node in a botnet. You account will be empty before you know it.
Hacking is no more simple typos or phishing emails, hackers have been updating themselves and their techniques with the developing technologies while you are stick in 2010. They can use AI that can clone your mother’s voice in seconds. They don’t need to be “smart” anymore, they just need you to be lazy for one second.
SO HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN THIS DIGITAL WORLD:
1. Stop giving everyone your real name.
When you sign up for a newsletter, a rewards card, or a random website, tweak your name slightly. Examle, If your name is Alex Smith, On Amazon, register as “Alex A. Smith”, On that random coupon site, register as “Alex B. Smith” , On your gym membership, use “Alex Gym Smith”. If you suddenly get a spam email or a scam call asking for “Alex Gym Smith,” you know exactly who leaked or sold your data. You catch them red-handed.
2. Never trust an inbound call.
If your “Bank” calls you about fraud? Hang up. Flip your credit card over. Look at the number on the back or search for the number and call them. If it was real, the agent will see the notes on your account. If it was a scam, you just saved your life savings.
3. Have a safe word with you family and friends.
AI can now clone voices from a 3-second clip. Scammers use this to call parents, sounding exactly like their children, screaming that they’ve been kidnapped or arrested. Establish a verbal “Safe Word” with your family today. so If anyone calls claiming to be you, crying, hurt, or in jail, your family asks for the safe word. If the voice on the phone can’t say it, it’s AI. Hang up.
4. The 5 minute rule.
Scammers use a psychological weapon called “Urgency.” They want you to act now before your logic kicks in. When you feel panic, freeze. Tell yourself, “I will handle this in 5 minutes.” Put the phone down. Walk away. Drink water. Adrenaline lowers your IQ. So after 5 minutes when your logic returns, then analyse the issue.
5. Use Firefox or Brave.
6. Your smart home can be the reason for ur empty bank account
Your smart fridge, your creepy baby monitor, and your cheap smart lightbulbs have terrible security. If a hacker gets into your lightbulb, they can jump to your laptop. Most modern Wi-Fi routers let you turn on a “Guest Network.” Try connecing all your smart home devices to the Guest Network. Connect your phone and laptop to the Main Network. so if any IOT device gets hacked, the hacker is trapped in the Guest Network and can’t touch your banking PC.
7. Don’t click sponsored result:
Hackers are buying Google Ads to put their malware links at the very top of search results (SEO Poisoning). Never click the results marked “Sponsored” or “Ad”. Scroll down to the organic results.
8.Scrub your photos:
You take a photo of your new puppy and post it. Cute. But that photo contains “EXIF Data”—hidden metadata that includes the exact GPS coordinates of your living room. Take screenshots of your photos. Post the screenshot. Screenshots strips out the GPS metadata. Now you aren’t broadcasting your address to the world.
9. Don’t using public USB charging ports:
Public USB charging ports (airports, malls) can transfer data while they charge your phone. Buy a “Data Blocker” It’s a tiny adapter that cuts the data pins inside the USB, allowing only electricity to pass through. Charge anywhere without fear or just stop using it entirely , carry a power bank.
10.Don’t scan random QRs:
Hackers paste their own QR code stickers over legitimate ones on parking meters and restaurant tables. You pay the hacker, not the city. Thus before you scan, run your fingernail over the QR code. If it feels like a sticker stuck on top of the original sign, do not scan it.
If you think instead of keeping your passwords as password123 you will keep it as Pa33WoRd@123# and that is a secure password then you are wrong , all password crackers are trained for such variation , try keeping you password as long as possible and not names and word that u easily share on the net , don’t use the name of the site you are using or your username or any particular keyword that one can easily find from your social media accounts.
The goal isn’t to be unhackable. The government could get into your phone if they really wanted to. The goal is to be unprofitable.
Hackers are looking for low-hanging fruit. If you are a paranoid and aware person, you become too much work. They will move on to the next person who is still using “Password123”.
Stay paranoid. Stay safe.