In the digital age, cyber scams have become an increasingly common risk for Internet users. Expert cybercriminals use ever new and sophisticated methods to exploit the vulnerabilities of people and systems, in order to obtain personal data, sensitive financial information or even steal identities. To protect yourself from these threats, it is essential to know the main cyber scams and take the appropriate countermeasures. This article will explore the most common scams and provide helpful advice on how to defend yourself.

  • Phishing: Phishing is a scam that involves sending deceptive emails or messages that appear to come from reliable sources, such as banks or utility companies. The goal is to trick the user into revealing personal or financial information, such as passwords, bank account numbers, or security codes. To defend against phishing, it is important to:
    • Be cautious when responding to suspicious emails or messages.
    • Verify the sender's authenticity by contacting the organization directly and verifying whether the request sent by email falls within the type of relationship adopted by the sender for all its customers.
    • Do not click on suspicious links and never provide personal information by e-mail without being sure of the origin of such request.
  • Ransomware: Ransomware is a form of malware (malicious software) that encrypts files on your computer or computer system and requires payment, usually in cryptocurrencies, to restore access to the files. It is one of the most dangerous and widespread cyber scams. Ransomware-type viruses are real disguised software, often inside compressed archives in zip format, which once inadvertently launched by the user, unaware of the harmful content, begin to encrypt all the data on your computer and then proceed with all those available in the shared resources in the LAN local network of your office, home, company, etc. To effectively protect yourself from ransomware, here are some countermeasures that you can take:
    • Use reputable antivirus software: Install a quality antivirus program on your computer and keep it up to date. An excellent antivirus capable of detecting and blocking ransomware threats before they infect the system is the Comodo Antivirus, it is a solution that is not widespread in Italy but is in fact an excellence on a global level as also shown by several videos on YouTube
    • Very important to pay attention to suspicious messages and emails: Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links in emails from unknown or suspicious senders. Ransomware is usually distributed via phishing emails or through compromised websites.
    • Regular data backups: Make regular backup copies of your important data to external devices or secure cloud services. In case of a ransomware attack, you will be able to restore your data without having to pay the ransom.
    • Use anti-malware software: In addition to antivirus, use additional anti-malware software to detect and remove any threats that can escape traditional virus scanning.
    • Avoid untrusted or illegal websites: Exercise caution when browsing the Internet. Avoid visiting untrusted or illegal websites that may be infected with ransomware or other cyberthreats.
    • Use a virtual private network (VPN): A VPN encrypts your Internet connection, protecting your data from unwanted eavesdropping. This is especially important when using insecure public Wi-Fi networks, which can be vulnerable to ransomware attacks.
    • Education and Awareness: Maintain a good understanding of the tactics used by cyber crooks to spread ransomware. Being aware of threats and being wary of suspicious links or attachments can help avoid accidental infections.
    • Isolate Devices: In a corporate setting, it's a good idea to isolate devices and limit individual users' access to only the files and resources they need to do their jobs. This way, in the event of a ransomware infection, you can limit the spread to critical systems.
  • Malware: Malware is malicious software designed to infect users' devices without their consent. This includes viruses, worms, ransomware and spyware. To protect yourself from malware:
    • Always keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date.
    • Avoid downloading files or software from untrusted sources.
    • Do not open attachments and links from unknown or suspicious senders.
  • Online Transaction Scams (or Fake Stores): Online transaction scams involve buying products or services online, but paying for them without receiving anything in return. To defend yourself against these scams:
    • Use safe and reliable payment methods.
    • Check the seller's reputation and read reviews from other buyers.
    • Avoid offers that seem too good to be true.
  • Tech Support Scams: In this scam, cybercriminals pose as support technicians and try to convince the user that their computer is infected with viruses or technical problems. Later, they ask for remote access to the device or payment to fix the non-existent problem. To defend yourself against these scams:
    • Never give remote access to your computer to strangers.
    • Directly contact the official technical assistance of the company in question or your trusted technician or DEV74
  • Lottery or prize scams: Lottery or prize scams involve the mass sending of messages informing the user that they have won a prize or a substantial sum of money. However, to get the prize, the user must pay taxes or administrative costs which therefore once done will make any hope of obtaining the phantom winning disappear. To defend yourself against these scams:
    • Always be wary when receiving messages by any means and of any kind, regarding offers of attractive prizes or winnings.
    • Never pay taxes or administrative fees to obtain an unsolicited prize.
    • Verify the authenticity of the lottery or contest by contacting the organization directly.

In conclusion, computer scams are an ever-present risk in the digital world, but knowing the main threats and adopting the right countermeasures, it is possible to protect yourself effectively. Awareness, prudence and the use of up-to-date security software are essential to keep your personal and financial data safe. Remember, prevention is the best form of defense against cyber scams.