Usually when hearing about information theft, most people will have 2 thoughts, one is to try to be as cautious as possible and the second is to think that it will not happen to them. But this subjectivity is not good because intruders will take advantage of it to perform the act of stealing data from you.

This is a big deal because today, most people are quite reliant on personal gadgets and online accounts to access and store important information, including everything from health records to health records. financial and work documents. Habits that leave users vulnerable to hackers include not keeping their computers and smartphones up to date with the latest updates, using public Wi-Fi without a VPN, and using the same password for every account. online.

What hackers really want to do with your personal data is sell them, intentionally expose information, hold information for ransom, exploit information to get valuable things like credit card numbers, Use it for other hacks or simply show off your trophies. Some hacks have nothing to do with money but only revenge, for example those that hack into "unhackable" systems or organizations to show off or leak data to protect themselves. retaliate.

However, most cybercriminals operate mostly for financial gain and the stolen data can contain a lot of valuable information, such as login or credit card information and citizenship numbers.. The stolen data is then sold in bulk on the internet.

Online Activity Tracking: Some hackers want to track your online activity to gather information about your preferences, habits, or even to find valuable information to attack you later.

Data attacks are on the rise

In the 2023 report on cyberthreats occurring in 2022, there were more than 623 million ransomware attacks globally. This represents a staggering 105% increase year-over-year (2021), the report adds, adding that all forms of cyberattacks are on the rise.
Cyberattacks are no longer limited to a specific country. Hackers can attack from anywhere in the world and target anywhere.

The increase in the number and complexity of attacks has led to an increase in the cost of cybersecurity protection and attack recovery.

The number of discovered and reported vulnerabilities in products and software has grown into the hundreds of thousands each year. Software vendors and security organizations work hard to patch this vulnerability, but some vulnerabilities may still go undetected or exploited.

Safeguard personal data

Use a long, complex, and unpredictable password for your account. Use a password manager to manage and automatically generate strong passwords.Enable two-factor authentication on your account when possible. This includes entering a code sent to your mobile phone or email to ensure that only you have access to your account. Always keep your operating system and browser software up to date. for protection from known security vulnerabilities.Use a secure connection (HTTPS) when accessing websites and online services. Use your own data encryption application or an encrypted data storage service.Share personal information only when necessary. Avoid sharing personal information via unsecured email or untrusted websites. Know the personal data protection regulations in your region and comply with them.
Followed by other simple methods such as using reliable anti-virus software, regularly checking your device for updates can also help prevent attacks. One of the most effective ways hackers use to target victims is to trick them into giving out passwords or sensitive information. Victims will be contacted via email, SMS, Facebook, on phishing websites and even via mobile phone. Cybercriminals will pose as agents or representatives of an organization to deceive victims and hand over personal data to them.