Beware of the common cyber scams in 2020

Beware Of The Common Cyber Scams & Stay Hack Proof this 2020

2020 is all about New Hopes, New Achievements and Some New Milestones for us all, however, amongst all that, something which has not changed is the hackers around us.

Mastercard’s Spending Pulse report confirms that E-commerce in America has been risen by 18.8% in 2019​ if compared with that of 2018’s.

Hands down the users have used different devices to make this happen to like their smartphones, tablets, or laptops. With so much of technological intervention, there is yet not a brand offering systems which can carry out secure online transactions or for that matter protection against cyber scams.

Even in 2019, we have witnessed countless incidents where many people have complained that they have witnessed an interbank frauds. This was no less on an organizational level either, the statistics have shown that across the globe only 32% of the organizations could dodge cyberattacks. This has been possible in both our professional and person ends because these hackers chose to attack our accounts when we’ve been most vulnerable especially during the festive season.

To keep your new year guarded and attacks proof we have some tips for you that will keep you off cyber scamming temptations. Keep a count of the following Cyber Scams and don't let cybercriminals take away your festive vibe. Unfortunately, these scams are so sophisticated that they just go unnoticed. These include:1. Email Scams From Authorized Banks​: Well, cybercriminals and hackers inherit a personality like air. Where despite being always around you they are never be found. Hence, this is why they are some of the

most sophisticated professionals who can extract what they want from your searches over the internet or even by knowing your transaction history encountered by you in the past. This helps hackers in knowing who you are, what you do by profession and which bank do you use.

Now when there is a sale on the E-commerce websites during the festive season you are bound to receive countless emails from the bank and e-commerce websites.

Unfortunately, scammers have started using this as a weapon to reach the vault of your accounts. They’ll send you an email that will make you think as if it was shared from your bank, however, the contact details on that email it would not be of your bank. They’ll somehow trap you and then extract all your money from your respective accounts.

Users, you must know this if your bank is approaching you they'd have all your details.

Right from ​your account number to your card number. So now when you get an email like such try not falling for it, instead, call up your bank to your relationship manager or the bank manager and confirm it to be double sure.

2. Public Wi-Fi Scams: In the era of today there’s not even a single soul that has not been habitual to the internet. Now this can become a scary while we're using a public network at the airport during a travelling or while in a restaurant. Even the evolution of newer technologies have contributed to this, where despite doing a greater good it has unknowingly facilitated hacker to walk through one’s system and access their data. And all of this can be done by hackers with the use of public network easily. In fact, hackers can hack into your system even when you’ve not connected it with a public network with the help of the machine identifying where do the masses shop from while visiting a mall. Various brands today have installed a machine in their store that can count how many people visited their store and how many of them actually bought from their brand. So when you leave home your devices are connected to the Wi-Fi in there, however, this doesn’t turn

off until you turn it off. That’s why whenever you enter any store having a Wi-Fi in it your devices look for a network to connect with this despite when you have not logged in properly. Hence, when you leave from home try switching off your devices Wi-Fi so that you don’t need to worry about losing your data.

3. Fake Free Wi-Fi Offer​: I'd recommend you, ​not to connect your devices on a network that asks you to put in your credentials​, you might find such networks at various eating joints. There are public networks that claiming to be free, however, connecting to them may compromise your data especially during a time when you have you've entered a payment gateway.

This can lead any hacker to get into your systems and get access to your personal details and other data which you weren’t keen on revealing.

4. Software Plug-ins or Other Fake Updates​: Since we have just walked into a new year this means that all our friends, family and ourselves would have been busy in sharing a lot of online content amongst one another.

However, some of us have somehow have managed to fed cybercriminals with their shareable malicious content. Malicious content includes Flash Player Update’ that you’ll need to access the video link that one of your loved ones have sent. Once you accept such requests, your system can get infected by malware, and it will spread through your other contacts, asking them to do the same. Try now to use such things or update any unnecessary software that you have no account of or don’t touch the update button of that software of which you feel ever existed on your system.

5. Ransomware Attacks​: Ransomware Attack ​is something that compelled even the ​Texas Department of Information Resources to retrieve their data for ​$18 Milion which originally cost only $80,000​. Ransomware attacks off late have scaled up, this may take place using a pop up of your random downloads. Hence, I’d recommend you avoid using unsecured websites because such websites will ask you for your personal details which includes your financial details. This is something that can also be found on newly launched e-commerce websites. Unfortunately, newly launched e-commerce websites that are not using HTTPS protocols can also get you in trouble. Cybercriminals keep a tab on such websites and they’ll make you fall into their trap so that demand ransom on your private data from you later.

6. Fake Websites Asking For Donation: Cybercriminals are so smart these days that they might create a fake website and ask for donations. Since we have just walked into a new year you'd be getting a lot of emails or pop up for charity. Now the surprising part of all this is that getting a brand ambassador for such fake websites is a piece of cake for cybercriminals. Hence, this may appear to be a legitimate website to you, however, it can bite you unexpectedly. So, keep yourselves guarded and donate for whatever the cause that you support directly to the agency.

7. Fake Virus Alert Pop-ups​: Surfing over the internet you may come across a page showcasing that your device has been bugged with a virus. It will also intimate you to download a given app to keep yourself guarded and the second you'd do it they'll have the entire details of your system bank accounts and your private data that can mess things for you eventually.

8. Taking Certifications: In order to keep yourself and your organizations away from cyberattacks, you can take certified courses like CEH & CISSP that will help you in the following ways:a. Certified Ethical Hacker Certification (CEH Certification): ​hacking community is one community that is highly innovative because they somehow find a way to break through your systems and exploit the information available on it. These tech-savvy people are always proactively looking for vulnerabilities on your systems. Since they are always finding ways to extract information from your systems without getting trapped. Hence, CEH professionals have to be extra cautious and this is why they use highly sophisticated equipment, skills, and techniques to spot the system vulnerabilities and filling these needful gaps.

These professionals are such an integral part of an organization’s system that they are offered an average salary of $150 000. This is one of the few courses that professionals can take up after the 12th. It is perhaps the perfect course in IT if you are looking for IT courses online for beginners. In fact, CEH is one of the few IT courses that can be prepared using online platforms like Mercury Solutions.

b. Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certification (CISSP Certification): ​CISSP Certification is one of the best IT courses that is an advanced-level certification for professionals serious about careers in information security. These professionals are decision-makers possessing expert knowledge and technical skills necessary to develop, guide and then manage security standards, policies and procedures within their organizations. The kind of knowledge they possess has helped them generate an annual salary of $119,184.

Ethical Hacking​ ​is the legal way of bypassing security systems to identify and

eliminate potential network threats and data breaches. An Ethical Hacker thus is under the jurisdiction to perform activities that test the defences of the systems at a given organization.

As an ethical hacker, a professional would be taking into account the weak points that are present in the systems of the organization which otherwise can be exploited by the malicious/ Black Hat hackers.

BlackHat Hackers are only concerned about the data that is possessed by any organization so, for such people breaking through an organization's security system is not a big deal. Such hackers often violate the security restriction and use illegal techniques that can compromise the system or even can destroy the information. These hackers don't ask for permission before getting in any system.

Hands down the intentions of both the ethical and black hat hackers would just be opposite from one another. Where black hat hackers are concerned only take charge of one's data that can possibly be harassing for them. An ethical hacker thus has some techniques that differentiate them from black hat hackers. These include factors and elements like:●

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Used techniques:​ Ethical hacker generally follow the footsteps of a hacker from the same door they had walked into the organization. Hence, ethical hackers duplicate the techniques and methods which were taken or adopted by malicious hackers. This helps Ethical hackers in identifying the faulty system along with how this system was attacked.

In case there was a flaw or weakness in the entry system they fix it.

Legality​: Both ethical and black hat hacker breaks into the server or network, however, it is an only ethical hack who has the legal authority to do this, despite when both these professionals have used the same techniques.

Ownership​: Ethical hackers are always appointed by organizations to penetrate their systems and detect security issues. However, black hat hackers don't bother about all of that.

Ethical Hackers ask for the organization's approval.

Ethical Hackers’ Job An ethical hacker is entitled to look for the weak links that can mess around with the organization. These professionals conduct a thorough investigation of their systems and network to spot a weak point which otherwise can be exploited by BlackHat Hackers. It is imperative that an ethical hacker keeps the account of the organizational guideline so that they are operating in a legal manner. Ethical hacker are bound to follow the following rules while hacking:● ● ● ● ●

Cannot hack into the facility without being authorized from the organization which owns the systems. As hackers, they must obtain a full assessment of the system or network.

Must determine the scope of their assessment inform the organization about its goals.

With a discovery of any security breaches and vulnerabilities, they must report it to the organization Must keep their discoveries confidential so that the organization is unbreachable.

Eliminate all traces of the hack once the system and vulnerabilities are found this keeps malicious hackers off the organization even if there's a loophole.

An ethical hacker is thus entitled to keep a track on the key vulnerabilities that are not limited to:1.

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Changes in security settings Infection attacks Exposure of sensitive data Components used in the system or network that may be used as access points Breach in authentication protocols

Though it isn’t difficult to become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) at least in terms of qualifications. Anyone after their school can enrol for CEH and get their certification however, some basic skills can change your whole game of getting cleared within a single attempt. This includes:1. Knowledge of programing: All hackers are it ethical or black hat they fidget with the programming, hence, having basic knowledge about programming can change the game. Also, the professionals working in the field of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and application security have a huge chance for the same.

2. Script knowledge: Typically professionals who are or are meant to deal with attacks as their job roles. Such professionals are meant to be working/ dealing with network-based attacks and host-based attacks.

3. Networking skills: This is an important skill since most threats originate from the networks, so, having the knowledge of what all devices are connected to the network,

how are they connected and how should you identify about any one of them in case they have been compromised.

4. In case if you don’t have any of that don’t worry a good CEH training institute can also help you with that. ​Mercury Solutions​ is one of the best CEH training institute you’d ever across for CEH training.

Professionals taking up ​CEH Certification​ know that black hat hackers are the community of highly innovative since they always have a way to break through your systems to exploit the information on it. These tech-savvy people are always proactively looking for vulnerabilities on your systems. Since they are always finding ways to extract information from your systems without getting trapped.

Hence, CEH professionals have to be extra cautious and this is why they use highly sophisticated equipment, skills, and techniques to spot the system vulnerabilities and filling these needful gaps. These professionals are such an integral part of an organization’s system that they are offered an average salary of $150 000. This is one of the few courses that professionals can take up after the 12th. It is perhaps the perfect course in IT if you are looking for IT courses online for beginners.

Scope of Ethical Hacking

It was found that by the end of 2018, 68% of the businesses across the globe were affected by cyber-attacks, whereas in the Indian market this was 76%. This is why there’s a massive demand for CEH professionals in the industry today.

While sitting for a CEH exam the most common question is ‘what is the role of a CEH professional?’

Ethical hacking is somebody who eliminates black hat hackers from the systems of the organization and keeps the data, networks safe by identifying potential threats. An ethical hacker is also a part of the security team who during a cyber attack helps the organization in handling the damages and provide the support that protects the networks and monitors the networks for any irregularities. (If you are looking for ​ethical hacking training​ connect with us) Your job as an ​ethical hacking course​ would have days with a lot of stress and days with nothing of this sort. This depends entirely on the security of the networks. For security to be strong it is important that an applicant must have a strong history in computer security. Which means a CEH must have a knowledge about:● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Making scripts having the ability to test the vulnerabilities and penetration Developing low-level tools which can enhance security monitoring and testing Sharing detailed reports with their team and executive about document security findings Assessing risk across the networks including hardware and software. And informing both the software and hardware developers about these vulnerabilities Setting up security policies to make protected practice for the personnel Reviewing & hiring vendors for security system incorporation Training peers and subordinates on best practices for network security

Whatever network or security that a CEH creates or work upon, he/she works on them on the based upon the following rules: ● ● ●

Would operate preferably with written and express permissions to hack a given network Respect the privacy policy Would also keep their work hidden such nobody can exploit it

The next big question remains is ‘what is the ​Scope of Ethical Hackers​?’

Before we rush into the scope of an Ethical Hacker lets just first identify where all do we need where all is the requirement for such professionals. Ethical Hackers are generally hired by IT firms, government agencies like the special forces, defence organizations, detective companies, forensic laboratories and in investigating service.

Internet security and networking are the two fastest-growing segments in ethical hackers where one can find employment. Ethical hackers are hired to find any vulnerabilities that might exist in

a network and to fix them. They can join the government as well as private organizations as cyber-security experts. (If you need to know about ​ethical hacking course​ fees click here) It has been seen that Ethical hackers in the past have been massively been hired by companies like Reliance, Airtel, HCL, Mahindra, TCS & IBM. Furthermore, Ethical hackers have also been in high demand amongst the Federal Bureau of Information & the National Security Agency.

Along with this, there are various organizations that employ contractors to audit their systems and security testers.

Some of the most popular roles an ethical hacker may work on in a company or for the government are: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Security Investigator Forensic Investigator Ethical Hacker Data security specialist Network Security System Administrator/Manager Systems/Applications Security Executive IT Security Administrator/Consultant/ Manager Chief Information Security Officer Security Auditor Network Security Engineer Computer Forensics Investigator Security Certified Programmer Web security Administrator/Manager

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Security consultant

Baring your work experience in the industry, a fresher on an average tends to earn ₹4.5 lakh per annum and the ones having 5 years or more experience on an average tend to earn ₹10-12 lakh per annum. [ Learn More about ​Ethical hacking Training ​]