Cyberchat #2
Dear Friend,
You have probably implemented the privacy settings we shared with you in our last email. This is the first step in having a strong defense against threats that target you online. Now it’s time to focus on two common enemies on the internet: hackers and scammers. These cybercriminals have the same goal: to steal your identity and/or gain access to your money. They are cunning and clever, with new ways to scam you every day. Together, we can identify the signs and keep our community safe.
Jessica Bravo
SafetyNet® Bilingual Presenter
Hackers and Scammers
Hackers and scammers target people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. As the internet evolves, so do their tactics. Our goal is to provide knowledge and resources that will better prepare us all to identify and combat these online security threats.
What is the difference between a hacker and a scammer? A hacker uses their technical skills to gain access to computers, devices, and accounts of their victims by breaking into them. Scammers trick their victims into giving them access to sensitive information. They will often pressure their victims to take a specific action right away by focusing on the three emotions that make us react the most quickly without thinking, namely fear, anger, or excitement. For example, scammers may claim you are a lucky winner for a giveaway (tapping into the emotion of excitement) but ask you to submit personal information to secure your prize.
The following are some pro tips for protecting yourself against these attacks.
Cyber Safety Pro Tips:
1. Create a strong and unique password for every account. A password should be at least 12 characters long and should include upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and characters such as a question mark or hashtag symbol.
2. Do not use personal information in your usernames or passwords. This includes information that can be traced to you: birth year, nickname, zip code, name of your pet, school name, etc.
3. Check the url of each website, if it starts with https that means data is transmitted in an encrypted form and therefore more secure than a website which starts with http.
4. Change your passwords every 90 days. And remember you want each password to be unique. Don’t use the same password for more than one account.
5. Be vigilant of any red flag requests, such as paying with gift cards.
Fake social media advertisements, stolen Facebook accounts and gaming scams are just a few of their tactics. CBS 8 News recently reported that a card skimmer was found in an ATM at a CVS in Hillcrest. Card skimmers can be installed inside machines, making them invisible to the eye and are used to steal your credit or debit card information. Over 20 card skimmers were found in El Cajon in the past six months at self-check out stations in retail stores. One suggestion is to use a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay instead of a physical card because they encrypt your card data.
Check out these resources on hackers and scammers:
- What you need you need to know about gaming scams targeting children
- Most common types of phishing attacks
- How to spot social media shopping scams
- BBB: Think twice before buying from these social media ads
- Why hackers keep stealing Facebook accounts
- Uptick in credit card skimmers in East County San Diego
Empowerment Through OurPact’s ‘View’ Feature
After arming our kids with knowledge, it’s time for some tech-assisted oversight. Enter OurPact, the digital guardian angel that helps you raise cyber-smart citizens while granting you peace of mind. OurPact’s ‘View’ feature is your window into their digital world, offering snapshots of their virtual interactions, from social media chit-chat to their latest Google queries. It’s not about “spying;” it’s about guiding them in cultivating healthy online interactions. Read more
SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® is a collaborative program of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SD-ICAC) and the San Diego Police Foundation. It is designed to help kids, parents, educators, and concerned adults learn how to keep kids safe online.