Malware can target anyone's computer, server, or computer network. This is usually in software form and can range from purposfully malicious (such as stealing passwords, financial information and more) or tracking personal habits (such as browsing information you didn't agree to).
To help stop malware from getting on your computer, antivirus software or firewalls, and better encrypted internet routers are helpful.
Not to sound snotty, but because I'm a mac user, I honestly don't worry about it too much.
SourceRansomeware is a type of malware that holds personal information "hostage" until a ransom is paid to stop that information from being released to the public or allow you re-access to your device.
Backup your compuater and store them separately. Train yourself to look for suspicious looking attacks that try to gain access to your device.
As I work in a large company that is frequently targeted I worry about this a lot with work emails mostly. I take regular training and if i'm suspicious I ask a co-worker and don't respond / interact with the email.
SourcePhishing scams try to get sensitive information by impersonating a trusted site, such as pretending to be google when you have a gmail account and asking you to provide your password etc.
Training to recognize phishy correspondance, there has also been legislation that has attempted to restrict this as well.
Again, personally, not a lot, but at work with such a large company at stake, I worry more. However my company has done a good job at training us to use tools to check sources and investigate any suspicious correspondences.
SourceCredit Card Fraud can target anyone who uses a credit card, even if they are not using it online, skimmers are commonly seen at gas pumps as well. The attacker will try to transfter money from your card to another account they have access to or charge goods and services to your card.
Be diligent about checking your card history and call the company if a charge you didnt make comes about. Most credit card companies and banks are held accountable in this situation.
While this can be an annoyance and leave you without access to money for a bit of time till you are issued a new card, it seems like one of those things that just happens to almost everyone (some more than others obviously) these days.
SourceSpam attacks anyone with an email address who has given it out to a company. The result is an annoying amount of junk email that sometimese still ends up in your inbox.
Use a dummy email address for every yahoo who asks you for your email address. That way you are keeping your actual email address that you would use for important accounts separate.
Not much, I'm ok with spending half my life unsubscribing from email lists if that means less emails.
SourceBots take care of tedioius repetative tasts to save time (and money from employing people) from actual humans. The impact of bots is most commonly a lack of communication.
Many servers have a robots.txt file that gives bots rules to live by. If they do not adhere to these they can be removed from that server.
Not much at all, this is a sign of the times. I just wish they were better at understanding complaints when they are used as customer service chats!
SourceInformation privacy or data privacy can impact anyone who has set foot on the internet. The threat that comes with this can be almost nothing to devastating. In a world where people can dig up things you said years ago, and tailor politics to you based on your searches it has and will change this world forever.
Well, ideally, don't go online. But assuming you do, following the rule that anyting you do, anywhere you go, anything you type while online you should be comfortable with seeing that on a billboard. If you're not, don't proceed.
I'm concerned for what this kind of information can be used for when we have older people who have been online their entire lives. I see a lot of blackmail and a lot of animosity.
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