The digital age offers great opportunities for the development of communication, information and business, as well as for improving our quality of life; but it has also created the perfect environment for crime. Hiding behind their screens and the intricacies of the internet, thousands of cybercriminals have found the ideal environment in which to commit various offences, such as: scams, the data theft, the illegal sale of various products or content, the disclosure of fake news although, the security forces Just as they are becoming increasingly well-equipped to tackle them, new forms of cybercrime are emerging.
In this post, we want to warn you about the latest cybercrimes so that you can continue to enjoy the internet safely.
What are the cybercrimes that most affect users?
Just as technology evolves and creates measures of safety Whilst cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is also developing new ways to circumvent all kinds of barriers. Ever more sophisticated methods are being devised, and we as users need to be aware of them so that we can spot them in time and avoid falling into the trap.
Below, we explain what the most common online crimes involve:
- Phishing: Cybercriminals send fraudulent emails that appear to come from legitimate sources in order to trick people into revealing confidential information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
- Ransomware: The attackers encrypt the victim’s files and then demand a ransom to decrypt them. This can result in the loss of important data or significant costs for the victims.
- Online fraud: this includes scams in which criminals persuade people to buy non-existent products or services, or trick victims into sharing financial information.
- Identity theft (or «pharming»): The attackers redirect people to fake websites that appear to be legitimate in order to steal personal information, such as usernames and passwords.
- Cyberbullying: this includes online harassment, bullying or defamation, which can have serious psychological and social consequences for victims.
- Identity theft: Criminals use stolen personal information to commit financial fraud or other crimes in the victim’s name.
- Malware: This includes viruses, Trojans and other malicious software that can damage computer systems, steal information or allow attackers to take control of a device.
- Online investment scams: scammers offer fake or misleading investment opportunities online to steal money from people looking to make money.
- Misuse of personal data: Companies and organisations sometimes collect and use personal data inappropriately or expose it due to poor cyber security, which can lead to privacy breaches.
- Crimes relating to social media: this includes identity theft on social media, cyberbullying via social media platforms and the dissemination of harmful content.
New cybercrimes based on artificial intelligence
Users are becoming increasingly aware of the risks online and are better equipped to digital skills to combat them. We may no longer fall for such obvious traps as replying to an email from a stranger asking us for money in exchange for a fortune, but, What if the cybercriminal is hiding behind a familiar face? What happens if reverse-engineering algorithms manage to bypass the security measures protecting a large company’s data files?
Of all the new types of cybercrime, three stand out in particular:
Advanced cyber attacks
They involve creating fake social media profiles using AI to carry out what is known as ‘social engineering’ – a set of persuasion techniques and methods used to achieve unethical ends.
The creation of fake content and its dissemination online
We are not just referring to fake news, but to all kinds of high-quality content that appears highly credible, such as videos, photos, documents, etc. Above all, it is used in misleading political propaganda campaigns.
Reverse-engineering attacks on artificial intelligence models
Cybercriminals can use reverse engineering techniques to analyse and exploit models of artificial intelligence used in security systems, such as intrusion detection systems. AI understands how these models work and can find ways to evade detection, carrying out even more effective attacks.
Learn how to spot online scams!
Cyber scams have on the rise in recent years. According to figures from the National Police, 33,465 offences of this type were reported in the country in 2021, representing an increase of 17% compared with 2020. With the rise of new social media platforms, e-commerce and instant messaging, scams are rife, so the question we must ask is: How can we spot them in time to avoid falling for them? We’ll tell you how!
To avoid falling victim to an online scam, it is essential to stay alert and take precautions. Firstly, Always check the authenticity of your sources and websites before sharing personal or financial information, avoid clicking on suspicious links and be wary of unsolicited emails. Always use secure passwords and change them regularly. You should also try to keep your software and antivirus programmes up to date to protect your device against malware.
Above all, however, it is very important that you keep yourself informed about new forms of cybercrime so that you are not caught off guard. Caution and awareness are your best allies in the fight against cyber fraud.
Would you like to find out more about the new digital and technological landscape, its latest developments and most disruptive changes? Keep reading the Educa.Pro blog!
