5 things hackers want
from you besides money
We all know hackers want our money, but they don’t always need credit card numbers to get what they want. Cybercriminals constantly develop new tactics to mislead victims, so understanding what they are really after can help you recognize scams before you fall victim. Here are five things hackers commonly target to profit from their victims:
- Scammers can use your personal information against you if you aren’t careful. The more information you make available online, the easier it is for hackers to trick you. With access to personal details, they can pretend to be someone you know or a business you trust.
You can adjust the privacy settings on most online accounts to help prevent bad actors from using that information against you. Many social media platforms allow you to limit what you share to approved friends or followers. And think twice before participating in online quizzes that ask for your favorite color, where you were born, etc., as these are also answers to common security questions protecting your online access.
- Contact lists are prime targets for hackers wanting to find even more victims. A compromised social media account can be used to spread scams even further. Cybercriminals often send messages to your friends and family in your name, generally through an account they created to look like yours, to convince them to click suspicious links.
Be cautious if someone you know unexpectedly sends a link, makes an unusual request, asks for money, or even just sends another friend request when you are already connected. When in doubt, contact that person outside the platform in question to verify the message is legitimate.
- One password from years ago may be the only thing a hacker needs. If you don’t change your passwords regularly, even strong passwords become more vulnerable over time. Reusing passwords across multiple accounts is especially risky because one compromised account can put many accounts at risk.
Change your passwords regularly and avoid reusing them. Password managers, such as LastPass, Bitwarden, or iCloud Keychain, can store all your unique passwords and autofill login information to websites you’ve visited before. They often require two-factor authentication for security.
- Your email account may be the most valuable target of all. Most online services, including banking accounts, use email as a second layer of verification. If hackers gain access to your inbox, they can see which websites and services you use and submit password-reset requests to access those accounts, which also generally go to the compromised email account. That means far more than your email account could be at risk.
Some scammers may not act right away after gaining access to your email account. Instead, they may quietly monitor the emails you send and receive for months before acting. They can impersonate legitimate companies with fake emails, putting your device at risk if you’re fooled.
Always verify the sender’s email address before clicking on links, and consider changing your email password more frequently than your other passwords. Additionally, Golden West will never send you an email urgently requesting you change your login credentials.
- Ultimately, every hacker is after your trust in one form or another. Some schemes are elaborate and can take months or years to unfold through fake relationships or remote job scams. Others require only enough trust to convince you to click a link.
In some cases, cybercriminals use victims to support larger scams. In rare cases, they may ask you to buy and send gift cards or transfer money to cryptocurrency accounts. It’s also possible they will use compromised accounts to promote scams that appear legitimate.
The internet can be a great place to communicate with others and meet new people, but there is always a chance of encountering a scam. One of the best ways to protect yourself online is to be cautious and skeptical of anything that looks unusual, demands an urgent response, or sounds too good to be true.
While it may seem difficult to prepare for every new way criminals may target you online, a little knowledge and a few added security measures can go a long way. The tactics may change, but the goals often stay the same. Understanding what hackers want can help you recognize scams and avoid becoming their next victim.
Note: Watch for online classes coming from Golden West to learn more about how to maximize your internet connection while staying safe.
Golden West does not endorse any product or service that it does not sell.
