Here’s how you can stay safe from cybercrimes in 2022

• Cybercrimes include a variety of criminal activities done online.
• Cyberbullying, stalking and harassment are common forms of cybercrimes in the social media space.
• Keeping up with the healthy practices given below should help keep you safe.
  

Anyone using the internet is susceptible to cybercrimes. When we talk about them, it does not just mean malware and hacking to steal your financial, personal and other details, but also a whole lot of activities online that could harm you, including harassment, stalking, cyberbullying and others.

To keep yourself safe, you must follow practices that will protect you and your close ones from being a victim of such cybercrimes. Let’s take a look at a few practices that can help you stay safe online.

Here’s how to keep yourself safe.
Passwords
Repetitive passwords should be avoided and you should use a password manager app for storing them. Whenever you set up a password, it should be strong with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Software updates
Whenever you receive a notification to update your software, follow the process as it helps in getting the latest security patches which prevent cybercriminals from taking advantage of known flaws in the system.

Social media
Keeping your personal information to yourself is key to staying safe online. The more you share publicly, the more risk you have of being exploited as cybercriminals require very few data points to get hold of your personal information. This information can then be used to exploit you.

VPN
Use a VPN whenever you use public WiFi. This helps encrypt data leaving your device and anyone who tries to access your information will only get hold of encrypted data. Even for your home network, you should use the VPN to take advantage of the encrypted data transfer.

Teach your children
Familiarise your kids to the concept of cybercrimes to prevent harassment, bullying or stalking online. You should also be approachable whenever your child faces any instance of cybercrime.

Staying up-to-date
Stay up to date with the latest news on security breaches. For instance, if LinkedIn’s data is hacked, and you happen to have a profile there, then you should change your password immediately.

Identity theft
Be wary when you share confidential information online. You should keep track of your personal email addresses and various social media accounts to prevent hacking and use of your identity for illegal activities.

What to do if you are a victim of cybercrime?
Depending on the crime, you should approach and report it to the concerned Cyber Crime branch of the nearest police station. If you find yourself being a victim of bank fraud, then you should contact your bank and ask them for assistance.

Not reporting the cybercrime gives rise to it and makes it a leeway for criminals to exploit the online space for their vested interests.

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