Hacking is one of the biggest threats to consumers everywhere. The risks of hacking were recently brought to light by the major breach of hundreds of thousands of consumers’ private information at Equifax, a major credit reporting company. While it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of such determined criminals, learning about the most common hacking techniques can educate you on what to look out for when you’re spending time online.
A Keylogger
Keyloggers are a type of software that is installed on your computer without your knowledge. They record the key sequence and the strokes of your keyboard and often, as a result, contain things like usernames, passwords, and other private information.
Waterhole Attacks
This hacking technique is just like waterhole attacks, where the hacker tries to hit the easiest physical point accessible to their intended victim. These hackers will target people in a physical location, like a coffee shop or restaurant, and set up a fake Wi-Fi access point to lure you in. Once you connect to the Wi-Fi, they will often forward you to a legitimate-looking website to input your personal information.
A Fake Wi-Fi Access Point
A smaller scale version of waterhole attacks involves setting up a faking wireless access point anywhere, even if only 10 or so people are in the surrounding area. If you connect to the wireless access point, the hacker will be able to access your data.
Phishing
This is one of the most common and devastating hacking techniques. A hacker will create a legitimate-looking site for a major company, like Amazon or a bank. Then, they will send a link to users of the real site telling them that there was a problem with their order or that they need to confirm their bank account information. Once the person clicks the link and enters their data, the hacker will have access to their email, password, and potentially much worse.
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Working Nets is IT without the ego. We offer technical help and top-notch service without making you feel out of the loop or left behind. Even today’s top technology professionals still have issues with their gadgets and software sometimes, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if and when you need it! Our specialty is helping you understand the pieces of technology you use in simple ways. By outsourcing your information technology to us (and letting us do the network design planning), we will make sure that your company is up to date and safe, because technology never sleeps. Interested in finding out more about our services? Give us a call at (443) 992-7394 or visit us online. For more technology tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.
