Tag Archive for: online

Security experts reveal the 10 things to never post online

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Connecting to the internet, for that matter, is also important for work, socialising and keeping up to date with general goings on.

Although the internet can be a force for good, you don’t need us to tell you how dangerous it can also be.

Scammers are relentless online and will look to take advantage of any opportunity to rip you off in some way. 

So with that in mind, here are some suggestions for keeping safe online.

10 things you should never post online:

James Milin-Ashmore at Independent Advisor VPN said: “With 97.8% of the UK using the internet and 84.4% using social media, the digital world has become a hotspot for criminals to obtain personal information.

“Your online presence can make you vulnerable to identity theft, hacking and other security threats, meaning you should always be mindful and deliberate when you are posting and sharing information online.”

Your phone number

Cybercriminals can use your phone number to gather additional details about you potentially leading to identity theft and unauthorised access to your online accounts.

Posting your phone number also increases the risk of being targeted by phishing attacks, where scammers send you disingenuous messages or calls that try to trick you into providing sensitive information.

Your location

Sharing where you live or are currently staying not only puts you at risk of theft and stalking but also malicious online activity and identity theft. If a cybercriminal knows where you live, they can personalise their phishing attempts, making them much more convincing.

In terms of identity theft, if scammers have your address they will be able to build a more detailed profile about you posing a real danger to your personal information.

Even if you don’t share or post your address online, scammers may be able to breach your IP address. While your IP address won’t reveal your exact location, it does show the city or region where the device is…

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LockBit ransomware group back online after international police disruption

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Russian-based ransomware gang, Lockbit, said it has restored its servers and is back online following an international police operation last week that took it offline.

LockBit said law enforcement breached their dark website by exploiting a PHP programming language vulnerability, commonly used for building websites and online applications.

“All other servers with backup blogs that did not have PHP installed are unaffected and will continue to give out data stolen from the attacked companies,” said the statement posted on LockBit’s dark website, as reported by Reuters.

A spokesperson for the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), who led the international operation against LockBit, said the group remains ‘completely compromised’.

The NCA added the Agency recognised LockBit would likely attempt to regroup and rebuild its systems to facilitate their return online.

“However, we have gathered a huge amount of intelligence about them and those associated to them, and our work to target and disrupt them continues,” said the NCA.

The Russia-based group’s new site advertised a small number of alleged victims and leaked data. The new site showcased a gallery of company names alongside a countdown clock indicating the ransom payment deadline.

LockBit’s alleged leader, LockBitSupp, announced the ransomware group’s intensified focus on targeting government agencies following the takedown operation. Recently, reports have surfaced that LockBit has attacked Ernest Health, a network of 36 rehabilitation and critical care recovery hospitals spanning 13 US states.

“LockBit is back to attacking hospitals, Ernest Health allegedly breached,” said Dominic Alvieri on X (formerly Twitter).

Businesses Urged to Remain Vigilant

Vice President of Threat Research and Intelligence at BlackBerry Cybersecurity, Ismael Valenzuela, said the takedown of LockBit represented a positive step forward in curbing ransomware. However, the relaunch of its servers has ‘made it clear that victories are likely to be short-lived’. 

“Ultimately, LockBit’s absence will only create a vacuum for others to fill, particularly those who are already active yet largely unidentified,” said Valenzuela.

Valenzuela…

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The top 3 ways to protect your new devices online

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Cyberattacks are at an all-time high, and with the cost of dealing with a cyberattack doubling last year, their ramifications are more intense than ever. With your ISP and government trying to track your IP and internet activities, malicious actors devising schemes to infiltrate your device with malware or steal your sensitive data using phishing attacks, you absolutely need to wrap your devices with foolproof safety nets using the best VPN, the best antivirus, and the best password manager.

However, with so many security software on the market that release updates left, right, and center, you need a reliable team of experts that regularly test VPNs, antiviruses, and password managers first-hand—and TechRadar’s in-house experts do just that.

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