The internet is an incredible tool and so present in our lives that we no longer know how to live without sharing memes, watching series and movies online and quickly exchanging messages with friends. But since not everything is flowers, malicious hackers can use virtual loopholes to scam people. Microsoft carried out a study analyzing the incidence of people who fell into scams with the pretext of offering technical support in 2018 and the data shows that generations of Millennials and Generation Z were the ones that fell most in this type of fraud, in which hackers undergo technical assistance to steal user data and access their devices.
These generations spend more time connected and more frequently perform activities such as exchanging video and image content via email or downloading movies and music. According to the research, due to the overconfidence they feel when browsing the web, young people are more susceptible to these risks than older generations.
In Brazil, 66% of the population had contact with some form of fraud related to technical assistance this year, the most frequent being the use of pop-ups to offer fake services. Of those cases, 5% lost money on this – in 2016 that number was 12%.
Although the number of blows has decreased, it is necessary to protect yourself. That's why we've separated five tips for you to avoid falling into virtual attacks:
1 – Protect your privacy
Privacy is no longer an option, it's a necessity. Stay connected to your data and what you share on the internet, it's important to cherish security. Be careful when filling out digital forms! Make sure that a website or service is trustworthy before providing your personal information, such as passwords, bank details and more. Online services must have clear and transparent privacy policies and provide users with information about how their customer data will be used and who will have access to it. Remember that a supplier may host your data, but only you, the customer, owns this information.
2 – Always original software
Cybercriminals are a real threat, and it's important to know who you're receiving and to whom you're providing information before sharing it around. Choose solutions and programs that regularly release security updates – which is not offered in non-genuine copies.
3 – Be careful when installing programs
A common practice is to try to compromise your identity or banking information by requesting the installation of infected software, through apparently innocent downloads, such as photos, music, links, emails, also on social networks or in online games. When in doubt, don't risk it. These threats can be minimized when using genuine software that can be kept up to date.
4- Check the websites you access well
Do you know what Pharming is? This type of attack uses advanced techniques to create a fake website, identical to the original, with the aim of confusing the user and stealing identities and other important information. To be on the safe side, get in the habit of checking the URLs of the sites you visit frequently. Look for security symbols such as a padlock and https, and make sure the site is constantly updated with security (normally, secure sites have a verification seal).
5 – Keep an eye on security and backup updates
To prevent hacked computers and malicious software from attacking your computer and stealing your data, prevention is the best medicine. Keep your hard drive backed up, use a firewall to protect your network, and keep security updates up to date. Oh, it doesn't hurt to remember: always keep your passwords strong.
To learn more, visit: https://blogs.business.microsoft.com/pt-br/2016/06/24/dicas-para-se-proteger-dos-crimes-virtuais-e-manter-sua-empresa- safe /.
EN 
PT 
