Acer Predator PT515-51 User Manual - Page 84

Staying ahead of cybercriminals, Ensure your software is up to date

Page 84 highlights

84 - Internet and online security Staying ahead of cybercriminals Stay ahead of hackers and cybercriminals by understanding the tactics they use to access your private data. Ensure your software is up to date Cybercriminals rely heavily upon software or platform vulnerabilities, as they are the easiest way to sneak malware into a user's device unnoticed, sometimes with little action on the user's part. Immediately after a software manufacturer announces an update, hackers are ready with malware that can breach holes in the software that would have been patched if the update was installed. How to stay safe: Perform any and all software updates as soon as they are available. Keep a lookout for fake or phishing emails Beware of emails that appear to be from a friend or business colleague that you know but seem a little odd. Maybe they didn't capitalize your name or there are misspellings. The email might be from cybercriminals who are trying to fool you into sending them your credit card number, social security number, or logging into a fake bank website that looks like yours but really isn't. How to stay safe: Use a strong antispam filter. If an email looks strange, don't click on anything and delete it immediately. Instead manually launch a browser and type in your bank's website address and log-in yourself. Don't be fooled if someone calls your phone A tech support scam is a form of online fraud where people call you on the phone saying they're Technical Support from a trusted company like Norton or Microsoft and that you have a virus. The main motive behind these scams is to extort money from the victim. Cybercriminals can also install malware such as keylogging software or backdoor Trojans in order to gain access to personal information. How to stay safe: Don't fall for phone calls that tell you your software or computer isn't working. Never give your

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88

84 - Internet and online security
Staying ahead of cybercriminals
Stay ahead of hackers and cybercriminals by understanding
the tactics they use to access your private data.
Ensure your software is up to date
Cybercriminals rely heavily upon software or platform
vulnerabilities, as they are the easiest way to sneak malware
into a user's device unnoticed, sometimes with little action
on
the
user's
part.
Immediately
after
a
software
manufacturer announces an update, hackers are ready with
malware that can breach holes in the software that would
have been patched if the update was installed.
How to stay safe:
Perform any and all software updates as
soon as they are available.
Keep a lookout for fake or phishing emails
Beware of emails that appear to be from a friend or
business colleague that you know but seem a little odd.
Maybe they didn't capitalize your name or there are
misspellings. The email might be from cybercriminals who
are trying to fool you into sending them your credit card
number, social security number, or logging into a fake bank
website that looks like yours but really isn't.
How to stay safe:
Use a strong antispam filter. If an email
looks strange, don't click on anything and delete it
immediately. Instead manually launch a browser and type in
your bank's website address and log-in yourself.
Don't be fooled if someone calls your phone
A tech support scam is a form of online fraud where people
call you on the phone saying they're Technical Support from
a trusted company like Norton or Microsoft and that you
have a virus. The main motive behind these scams is to
extort money from the victim. Cybercriminals can also install
malware such as keylogging software or backdoor Trojans in
order to gain access to personal information.
How to stay safe:
Don't fall for phone calls that tell you
your software or computer isn't working. Never give your