Cybercrime has existed ever since the internet became a thing in the world. Now, it has dangerously increased along with many other crimes.
The rate of cybercrime today
Many have since fallen victim to Phishing scams such as investment fraud, credit card fraud, and many other forms of obtaining sensitive information. The big question is how do we avoid it?
According to a cyber company called Surfshark, South Africa currently ranks 6th in countries where cybercrimes are most prevalent. Since 2021, South Africa had 52 cybercrime victims per 1 million internet users.
While cybercrime is not a new phenomenon, it has increased much more since 2001. The total amount of losses that have taken place since then saw an average total of R14 million lost to cybercrime. This is 400 times more than what was recorded back in ‘01.
However, other regions such as Australia and the United Kingdom have recorded a much more alarming rate of cybercrime in the years leading up to this year. By 2021, the UK recorded at least 4, 708 victims per million internet users.
Canada and Australia recorded an amount of 174 and 108 victims per million internet users respectively. This means individuals are more vulnerable to internet security breaches in the digital age we live in today.
How to protect yourself from internet crimes
This type of crime is reportedly higher than human trafficking and other illegal arms crimes
Some of the ways cybercrime is carried out are by sending emails and text messages that look like the real deal. These emails often look like they’re from verified organizations. However, it will often ask you to share sensitive information such as bank card details.
To avoid becoming a victim of cybercrimes, the Chief of Information Security, Christine Gordon-Bennett shares a few tips on how to avoid it:
- Do not click on any suspicious links
- Do not accept tempting offers – If an offer looks too good to be true, it normally is
- Do not over-share on social media – the more information you share, the more information a criminal has about you
- Protect your devices with software – enable multifactor authentication for extra security
- Back up your information
Remember, the festive season is a time when many people will approach you with offers to buy things. Most importantly, authentic and verified businesses will never ask for sensitive information such as your bank card details over the phone. Be vigilant and stay safe!
Source: Business Tech