Cyberthreats to avoid this festive season

AS the festive season rush approaches, cybercriminals are working around the clock to exploit people’s more relaxed states and lowered defences.

Among the various forms of cybercrime, South Africans are most likely to be targeted by scammers and fraudsters, says Wicus Ross, a senior security researcher at Orange Cyberdefense.

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”You’re most likely to be a victim of social engineering or manipulation, which can be conducted with little more than an internet connection and a mobile phone,” says Ross.

Victims are typically older, less internet-savvy individuals, or those who appear vulnerable in some way.

Criminals often befriend people on social media and attempt to extract money over time, or manipulate them into doing things for them.

The most common attacks
• Phishing: scammers trick people into sharing sensitive information
• Bait-and-switch: superior goods are advertised, but inferior goods supplied
• Pretending to be a trusted or reputable source, such as an online shopping site
• Offering prizes or free downloads in exchange for data or information
• Faking invoices or manipulating banking details
• Carrying out SIM-swap attacks

How to protect yourself
• Keep your software current with updates and patches
• Use strong, unique passwords that mix letters, numbers and symbols
• Shop only on secure sites
• For online shopping, use a mobile shopping app rather than a website
• If you receive an email that takes you to a website, do not click on the link. Instead, visit the company’s website directly or check its social media pages to see if the offer is valid.

Who can help?
Southern African Fraud Prevention Service: an NPO that provides support regarding fraud, financial crime and identity theft. Contact: www.safps.org.za/ | 011 867 2234 | safps@safps.org.za
The Cybersecurity Hub: a government initiative that offers resources and can guide you on reporting and handling cyber threats. Visit www.cybersecurityhub.gov.za/
SAPS: find out how to protect yourself against fraud and scams, and file a report in cases of theft or fraud.

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