Cybercrimes have reached a staggering rate as the universe of customers doing digital transactions has also grown exponentially (3471.9 million customers) in 2020. Cyber criminals are wading into this large ocean of customers to take the  opportunity to trick thousands of customers, and steal millions and possibly billions every day. This has left many individuals, businesses, and retailers empty-handed. However, to combat these cybercrimes, we can take some precautions. Here are some of the essential points to note before you do the next digital transaction.

Never share your PIN

Your transaction is your matter alone. Any third party should never be given access to your transaction history. Similarly, never share  PIN codes or One Time passwords.

Avoid using the same passwords

Assume that you like millions of others, use the same password for all of your accounts. Once the password is revealed, accessing all the other accounts will be a breeze for the hacker.

So, use different passwords for all of your accounts. Systematically think of how you pick passwords so it’s easy for you to remember but difficult for someone to guess, or you can also use password generators and digital vaults.

Make strong passwords

Simple and easy passwords can be easily hacked as compared to complex ones. Try to add a letters, numbers and symbols in a single password. 

But don't forget the password you have created yourself. Use simple and easy tricks to make it complicated for others but easy for you.

Ignore bogus alerts and messages

"Transaction alert :your debit card has been used to conduct a transaction of  $xxx amount. To confirm kindly call xxx-xxxxxxxx". This is a trap! 

These kinds of bogus alerts are meant to alarm you, and you instantly call back. Credit card fraud remained on top of the list of fiduciary losses caused by identity theft with an estimate of 232.3 million victims in 2019. These numbers continued a meteoric rise with a 104% change between 2019 to 2020 (according to the FTC fund report).

Before responding to these alerts, you need to confirm by calling your bank.

Say no to "torrent sites"

Short cuts were never meant to be long-term solutions. You never know, if the file you access via the Torrent was planted there by a hacker for you to stumble across. 

Once a file enters your computer, it can access and externally transmit all your personal information. Moreover, you may not be able to report your loss.

Invest in an antivirus 

Install an authentic antivirus that provides safety against different viruses. Once the application is installed, you are well on your way to stress free work, with less worries tied to cyber hacks from malicious malware. 

Authentic antiviruses filter each site before loading it on your browser and instantly block suspicious URLs. 

Triple check the web protocols before any transaction! 

Hackers can provide you website copies, and you will be hard pressed to differentiate them from the original, but you can certainly identify the web protocol. 

Secure websites use the protocols HTTPS (http+s). Before conducting any transactions, triple check whether the URL contains HTTPS or HTTP. And if it is the latter, do NOT enter your details.               

Tricks to use, to minimize interface with third-party software and applications

You won't ever know, and a hacker can be hidden behind a third party website you just browsed. To protect your data from being fetched by any third party member or the hacker, use the following tricks:

• Use private/incognito mode: 

All your data/cache will be erased once you close the personal tab. So, in case you are out there using third party devices/software, always remember "incognito" must be your choice

•  Use on-screen keyboards:

The pre-installed keyloggers can fetch each letter you type with the help of keyboards. Thus, using on-screen keyboards ensures that your keystrokes are not tracked. 

Make an instant call

Did you lose your debit card, or do you suspect a malicious activity? Dial the bank as soon as you can. Within 24 hours, the transaction can be easily reversed, and in case of physical theft, the card can be blocked.

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Never use public networks for digital transactions

You are not secure under the roof of a public network. Hackers utilize this opportunity to grab their prey. Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report estimated that about 594 million victims lost their data and shopping details on public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi should be studiously avoided while conducting money transactions. 

Instead of falling into a trap, let's all act smart!