The Sudden Spike in Cybercrime Analyzed

In recent years, cybercrime has become a growing concern for both people and businesses alike. The increased reliance on technology has provided the perfect opportunity for cybercriminals to exploit devices and launch dangerous cyberattacks.

On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic has only made this issue worse, with more people working remotely and relying on the internet and technology for communication and entertainment.

As a result, there has been a sudden spike in cybercrime, and it's crucial to analyze this trend to understand why it’s such a serious problem and what the potential solutions are.

Spike in Cybercrime

One reason for the sudden spike in cybercrime is the increasing number of people working remotely. With more people relying on digital platforms for communication and transactions, criminals have more opportunities to take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge and awareness of cybercrime.

Another reason for the spike in cybercrime is the growing use of mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Many people now use their devices for everything from online shopping and social media to banking and sending emails.

Cybercriminals can use a variety of cunning tactics to attack these devices — from malware to phishing scams, we’re going to learn more about these threats later on.

The sudden spike in cybercrime is a growing concern for individuals and businesses. There are a variety of factors that have contributed to this trend, including remote work, the use of mobile devices, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s crucial to understand these factors and look at how you can protect your devices from these threats in the future — keep reading to get all the details!

Malicious Software

The first major threat that your devices face online is malicious software. Malicious software, or malware, is a type of software that is designed to harm your devices. Malware can come in a huge variety of forms, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware.

Each malware has its unique features and goals, making them unique. However, all forms of malware are dangerous and should be taken seriously.

Viruses are a type of malware that can infect devices. There are many different types of viruses out there, and each one is unique. Some exist just to cause the user frustration, while others can cause serious harm such as deleting files or even corrupting an entire operating system.

Ransomware is the most dangerous form of malware that you can encounter on your device. This malware encrypts a victim's data and files, making it impossible to access them.

The only way to remove the encryption is by paying the expensive ransom fee, and even then, there is a chance that the hacker doesn’t remove the encryption.

Spyware is malware that is used to track the user’s behaviour. Cybercriminals can monitor your internet activity and keep an eye on which websites you visit most often. This allows them to create more effective phishing scams — something we’ll be exploring further in the next section.

Malware is often spread through different tactics, including phishing emails, unsecured networks, and infected software downloads. Once installed, malware can cause significant damage to your devices, and it can spread from one device to another.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are some of the most common methods that cybercriminals use to install malware on your devices. Phishing is when a cybercriminal sends fraudulent emails or text messages in an attempt to trick individuals into clicking on a link that causes malicious software to be downloaded.

The messages are designed to look like they come from legitimate sources, such as a bank, social media platform, or online store. However, they contain fake links or attachments that can compromise a user's device and personal information once they have been clicked.

In recent years, phishing attacks have become more dangerous because of social engineering. Social engineering is a tactic that attackers use to manipulate individuals into falling for their tactics because they pose as a person or business that they already know and trust — such as Netflix for example.

For example, a hacker may send an email claiming that a user's bank account has been compromised and that they must log in immediately to prevent further damage. This sense of urgency can cause the user to act without fully verifying the authenticity of the message.

Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly difficult to spot, and social engineering tactics are evolving with them. They are starting to create tailored messages designed to maximize the chance of success by posing as companies such as Netflix, PayPal, and local banks.

Protecting Your Devices

If you want to keep your devices safe from the threats of malware, you need to make sure that you invest in cybersecurity tools. Antivirus software is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software from your devices — smartphones and tablets included.

Antivirus software works by scanning your device's files and programs for malicious code or suspicious behavior. It can recognize malware because it has an entire library of known malware codes installed.

If it does pick up anything harmful on your device, then it can quarantine it to prevent the malware from spreading to other devices. It can also remove the malware from your device before it causes any further harm.

You must use premium antivirus software because it comes with additional features such as a library of known phishing scams and links, which will help to prevent malware from being installed on your device. Having this additional safety net on your device is critical with the ever-evolving threat of phishing.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that new types of malware are constantly being developed, and some can evade detection. That’s why you need a dedicated team of developers who are constantly working on updating the antivirus software’s database — something you won’t get with free antivirus software.

That's also why it's important to keep your antivirus software up-to-date at all times. Make sure to turn automatic updates on and always check if your antivirus software is ready for action!