You can do almost anything online — and most people never leave the virtual world. Whether during the day at work, in the evening in front of the TV, or at night with your favorite podcast, we’re always online. Keeping in touch via messaging services like WhatsApp also requires constant connectivity. But there are also some threats lurking on the internet that we need to be aware of. Read on to learn what these are and how you can protect yourself. Also discover how to use Avira Free Security to surf the internet even more safely and minimize risks.
What makes the internet so dangerous?
Hardly any other technology has developed as rapidly in recent decades as the internet. So much so that we can accomplish almost anything online: From shopping and keeping in touch to immersing ourselves in non-stop entertainment. Most households now enjoy internet speeds that are immeasurably faster than what we used to get out of a 56k modem at the dawn of the internet revolution — it’s like comparing a Formula 1 racing car to a horse-drawn carriage.
And since every device is constantly online, it makes life a whole lot easier and we get to enjoy new and exciting services. Yet despite all these upsides, there are also some downsides. Cybercriminals exploit this constant connectivity and the vast number of people on the internet to commit fraud. But what are the root causes of why there are so many threats on the internet?
- Unrestricted freedom: Cybercriminals can operate anytime, anywhere. All they need is a stable internet connection. The internet is like one big space, so it doesn’t matter where the cybercriminals are based.
- Anonymity: Cybercriminals hide on the internet behind pseudonyms, anonymous IP addresses, and fake identities. This makes it difficult to investigate cybercrime.
- Rapid spreading of (mis)information: Information and statements spread very quickly on the internet. Fake news and hate speech can also reach a huge audience in no time at all, which can have negative social consequences.
- Physical distance: Unlike traditional forms of crime where the perpetrator and victim often come face to face, in the case of cybercrime that doesn’t happen. This encourages criminals to behave more aggressively and cause more trouble than they would dare to in the “real world”.
- Scalability: Cybercrime thrives on reaching a large audience with little effort. Automatically generated phishing emails that are randomly sent to millions of people are just one example.
- Illegal resources: There are dangerous and illegal platforms on the internet that support criminal activities. The dark web in particular is a place where drugs, weapons, and even stolen identities can be purchased anonymously, posing a significant risk.
Typical threats on the internet
Cybercriminals’ scams are as varied as their potential to harm victims. Everyone should be aware of the threats lurking on the internet and take protective measures. Let’s look at the biggest and most common threats.
Phishing
Phishing is one of the most frequent forms of scam and one of the biggest threats on the internet. These scam emails, websites, or text messages look and read like the real deal from a reputable source. Cybercriminals prefer to pose as a trustworthy person or organization, with phishing messages often appearing to come from banks, online shops, social media platforms, or even friends and relatives.
This makes it easier to gain the trust of potential victims to access their sensitive data and information. Most messages use a sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly before they have time to think critically. In doing so, some victims react in panic and follow the instructions in the email or text message to avert an apparent threat. They are usually tricked into clicking a link in the message that leads to a fake website. These websites are deceptively similar to actual sites known to the victims. As soon as the victim tries to log in with their credentials, the perpetrators have got their hands on precisely the data they want.
Malware
One of the biggest threats on the internet is hidden in malicious software, also known as malware. The term refers to software that damages or manipulates devices and networks. Malware is spread on the internet in various ways. The most common forms include infected email attachments, downloads, and malicious websites. The goal of malware is usually to disrupt systems, spy on people, and steal sensitive data.
The most common types of malware include:
- Viruses: These are programs that attach themselves to otherwise harmless apps and files, thereby spreading. As soon as the seemingly unproblematic file or app is opened, the virus installs itself on the system.
- Worms: Worms are malicious programs that self-replicate and spread across networks without users needing to do anything. As a result, they can attack and infect a vast number of computer systems in no time at all.
- Trojans: A Trojan is malware that disguises itself as legitimate software. Typical examples include clean-up tools that are designed to tune up a potential victim’s PC and make it run faster.
- Ransomware: This software blocks access to computers or individual files. To regain access, victims need to pay a ransom.
- Spyware: Spyware programs secretly collect data and information from users and forward it to third parties. The information collected can include the websites you visited, the messages you sent, and your passwords.
- Adware: Adware causes unwanted ads to be displayed on victims’ computers. These are intended to confuse the user and at the same time generate revenue for the perpetrator.
Spam
Spam text messages are unwanted and often fraudulent messages that are text primarily to mobile phones. Spam messages work in a similar way to phishing emails where a vast number are sent out, increasing the likelihood of a greater number of people falling for the scam. Although most spam messages go unanswered and end up in the spam folder, some still achieve their goal.
The aim of spam messages is similar to phishing, where cybercriminals try to obtain sensitive and personal information through fake messages. Such information can include bank details, passwords, and addresses. Malware is also spread via links to malicious websites and apps. You’ll also see such messages advertising questionable products and services.
Identity theft
Identity theft or catfishing is when cybercriminals steal personal data from their victims, where the perpetrators pretend to be someone else as they go about their criminal activities. Identity theft most commonly involves the misuse of personal information such as someone’s name, address, account number, or social security number.
In most cases, criminals aim to steal money, commit crimes while pretending to be their victims, and damage the victims’ reputation. Phishing, data leaks, and document theft are three common ways that criminals obtain the information they need to steal someone’s identity.
Cyberbullying
The term cyberbullying refers to the targeted harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a person via the internet. The typical online channels used for this purpose are social networks, forums, and messaging services. Many children and young people are affected by cyberbullying because they spend a lot of time in these digital spaces. Parents should look for possible warning signs to spot early on whether their child has become a victim of bullying.
The most common methods of cyberbullying include insulting and slandering the victim, damaging the person’s reputation, and the publication of private information without the victim’s consent (also called doxing). Due to the rapid growth of the internet and its near-universal reach, cyberbullying has become a serious problem that can cause victims profound psychological suffering.
Cyberscams
Cyberscams are fraudulent activities where cybercriminals trick their victims on social networks or similar platforms. Using such scams, perpetrators exploit others for their own benefit as well as to gain access to sensitive data and financial resources.
Cyberscams are commonly used to trick potential victims, especially on online marketplaces, where sellers offer goods and services that don’t actually exist or are misrepresented. Criminals use other common methods, such as selling counterfeit goods and phishing by initiating contact with potential victims, to deceive and defraud others.
How to protect yourself from threats on the internet
Even though there are many threats on the internet, being aware of them and staying alert will help you protect yourself from most of those risks. Surf safely by following these steps:
- Be careful with emails: Be especially careful with unexpected emails. Even emails that appear legitimate can be phishing attempts. Check the email for spelling mistakes and scrutinize the sender’s email address carefully.
- Handle your data with care: Think carefully about which platforms you really need to register with and what information you share. The more websites, programs, and services have your personal data, the more likely it is that your information will be leaked and stolen.
- Use strong passwords: Use a unique, complex password for each of your user accounts. That way, if one platform suffers a data breach and your data makes it out onto the internet, all your other accounts won’t be put at immediate risk. Avira Password Manager is a great way for you to manage all your passwords.
- Perform regular updates: Keep all your drivers up to date — from your operating system and graphics card to individual programs and video games. If you’re using old, unsupported versions of software or online services, they might have security weaknesses that criminals can exploit to attack you.
Surf the internet more safely with Avira Free Security
Want to further strengthen your security and surf more anonymously on the internet? With Avira Free Security, you get to enjoy free threat protection that alerts you to potential threats in real time. This makes it much more difficult for malware such as viruses and Trojans to damage your devices.
Thanks to the integrated VPN, you can also use public and unprotected hotspots free from worry. Third parties won’t be able to unscramble your sensitive data, making accessing your information and unwanted tracking significantly more difficult. And when you’re traveling, you can still access the media and content you want — even if it’s normally tied to a specific location (referred to as georestricted).