Fighting Back Against Cyber Crime

 

Although laws on cyber crime exist, complete enforcement is still a long way off. There are countless incidents of online crimes reported daily, but only a handful of people have been prosecuted for such offences. The majority of these criminals continue to victimize businesses, offices, and public and private individuals. They take advantage of the limited jurisdiction of the law and the difficulty of pursuing international internet crime syndicates. Because governments can provide only a little protection, every user of the computer and internet should take responsibility in fighting the crime.

Invest in an Updated Internet Security Software
Security systems are available to help protect users. One example is anti-virus software that aim to identify and eliminate viruses and malicious software. You can install these onto your computer for added safety. For businesses, firewall is another form of defense. It safeguards a network from unauthorized access. There are packages available that consist of a whole system. Invest in them especially if you keep on using sensitive information stored on the Internet. Always update them too since new viruses are created every day.

Encrypt Sensitive Information
Cryptography is the science of encrypting and decrypting information. It is an effective way to avoid hackers from breaking in to your private messages. This is a code that is only known to the sender and recipient. Although this may seem to be extra work for both, it is a good step to delay the hackers’ malicious job. The process is mostly recommended for financial data since cyber criminals often target them.

Make it a Habit to Scan
Some individuals skip the virus scanning process of their computer. They feel that it causes a delay in their work. If you do this, you may be putting your system at risk. Your email attachments, downloaded pdf files and other documents may be infected with viruses and perpetrators are just waiting for you to miss the scanning opportunity. Large web services like Yahoo and Gmail have provided ways to scan sent documents. Take advantage of the service for your own protection.

Follow the Guidelines of Cyber Law
The cyber law, although it may have its deficiencies, is still an effective way to remind users to prioritize safety. Experts suggest that you avoid communicating with strangers on the internet. Never reveal your user name and password to anyone, and log on to only authorized sites. Avoid clicking links as these are more likely to be hacking attempts. When using social networking sites, be cautious with what you posts and the friends you accept. Hackers may just be one of your followers studying your daily movements. You must also avoid entering unsecured websites and lastly, be very vigilant in the use of technology.

Cyber attacks lead to serious consequences like disruption of critical operations, loss of property and damage to one’s image. Offenders easily get away with the crime because of lack of full cooperation from authorities and individuals, difficulty of identifying and tracing the perpetrators, and the overall cost of the legal proceedings. This will leave private individuals who do not have the power and capabilities more vulnerable to these ruthless attacks. Avoid this by getting proper software protection for your computer.