Hacking: Users are weakest link
With many online users being so easy to trick into visiting attractive fake sites or opening unknown emails, it makes them vulnerable to hackers who find it easy to steal their credentials and other important information, said a tech expert.
Maher Yamout, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab in Dubai, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a recent cybersecurity conference in Cape Town that while an increasingly connected world makes people's lives easier, it also poses great risk as online users expose their personal data to cyber criminals or hackers.
"With the increased use of technology, people [users] are the weakest link and the main target for cybercriminals," said Yamout.
"Human factor is among top things that make hackers' fraudulent acts so easy and this is because people can easily be tricked. Hackers create fake sites that seem attractive to the users and also send through attractive emails with a link that leads a user to their website and hence steal their redentials including usernames and passwords," he added.
"Everyone is vulnerable to online threats. People just have to be very careful while online and shouldn't visit unknown sites or reply to e-mails from unknown people."
"Think before you interact with other people online. Think before you click. People using the internet must have the clue, knowledge and how to protect themselves against cybercriminals." According to tech experts, phishing - the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication - is the top common cyber-threat as it is being used in ransom-ware deployment, deploying cyber-espionage tools and for stealing credentials. Also, ransomware is another common threat as its getting adopted to new technologies and it is hard to resolve or descript the ransom-ware itself. Yamout noted that cyber security has already impacted personal lives and that people need to protect themselves first.
"If we want to use technology everywhere, we need protection everywhere and for everything. Cybersecurity is for everyone, including governments, firms, schools, banks and individuals. With the growing use of modern technology, cyber security should be a culture as it is continuous," he said.
With the current 4th Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence, the problem of cyber-threats will even grow further. Security awareness in therefore important. And experts have advised that people, firms and governments must be well prepared for the use of online services.
"Hackers or attackers are very smart and very sophisticated. They use the latest technology to get into systems through phishing e-mails, social media networks, free Wi-Ffi in public places and other means," said Yamout.
"Teach yourself, your employees, your children to be self-protective against hackers or cyber-criminals. People shouldn't share important information everywhere online," he added. "Companies should invest in educating their workers on the basic IT security skills."
He noted that people should be aware that they are not anonymous and that every message they are sending through online can be seen by everyone unless when they have ensured protection from cyber-criminals.
Parents have also been told to strictly monitor what their children are doing online to protect them from cyber-criminals including bullies and blackmailers. - ismail@khaleejtimes.com
Ismail Sebugwaawo
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