Loading ...Hacking has continued to be a nuisance for always, but since the beginning of this year, sudden rise in hack attempts has pushed a debate around the world over privacy and security concerns.
Let’s take an account of some notable incidents in the recent past, which cite security risks to online privacy. In January this year, teen celebrity Selena Gomez’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, Google Bangladesh, and Sony’s PlayStation 3 were hacked. In a recent breach, the City of Friendswood e-mail server of the Texas Police Chiefs Association was attacked by hackers. In particular, Police Chief Robert Wieners’ account was hacked. Few days back, Gmail accountof several users in Iran were found compromised in a security attack. Such incidents have time and again posed a serious threat pertaining to unknown consequences and misuse thereof. Such incidents automatically raise a question about the motives of hackers.
Some hackers simply hack for the sake of their ego and get involved in virtual vandalism, defacing the website. Some hackers introduce Trojans and viruses, if a genuine antivirus is not installed in the targeted computer, to gain remote access to all the stored data. Some have motives to steal intellectual property to sell it to a third party. However, the most prominent of all these is the menace of identity theft and phishing. It is the most common and most intended reason for a security breach or hack attempt now-a-days.
Safeguarding personal information has become immensely important in this age of cyber advancement. Any sensitive data that gets into the hands of a hacker can lead to grave consequences. The hacker, at times sends you spam mails appearing to be from some recognized entity like a bank, or an organization. It would ask you to fill up a form and send back your personal information. In other cases, it may just ask you to click on the link and take you to a familiar but fake and replicated website (phishing).
Here are some standard guidelines to prevent your e-mail account from getting hacked:
• The most important practice to stay safe online is to install a reputed and
up-to-date antivirus solution with a firewall on your computer
system. You may choose between a personal and business version of the product.
• Always keep the installed antivirus, your browser and
operating system updated, enabling the Automatic Update mode.
• Delete the cookies and empty the cache from your browser from time to
time.
• Subscribe to a monthly newsletter from your antivirus company to stay updated.
• Use ‘Https’ secure line while signing into your accounts or otherwise.
• Always use a strong password and never reveal it to anyone.
• Install an antivirus product on your smartphone.
• Always log out from a shared or public computer after use.
• Keep a check on privacy settings of your e-mail and social-networking accounts.
