How to protect yourself from cyber crime in India?
Given the rapid increase in the growth of cyber crime, taking some preventive measure would help one prevent being a victim of cyber crime. Here are certain ways to protect oneself from cyber crime:[1]
- Keeping an updated system and software: Make sure to update your software and operating system up to date to make sure that you are benefitted from the latest security patches to protect your computer[2]
- Using Strong Password: Prevent sharing your passwords or writing it down in places that is accessible to everyone. Ensure to use strong password having a difficult combination of characters, letters etc., and change them on a monthly basis.
- Avoid being scammed: Do not click on unknown links and advertisements, always check the source of the sender for authenticity.
- Protect your online identity and personal data: Always be careful when sharing personal information like mobile number, address, name, passwords etc., on the internet. If a website or application is seeking for these information make sure to check its authenticity and privacy settings. Do not share sensitive information like OTPs, CVV number, bank details etc., with anyone.
- Secure your mobile devices: Downloading applications from untrusted and thirds party websites can lead to infiltration of malware and virus in your mobile, hence in order to secure your mobile devices from getting infected with malware and virus ensure to download applications from authentic sources.
- Activate your firewall: Firewalls are the first line of cyber defense installed in a computer that can block connections to unknown or bogus sites which keep out some types of viruses and hackers.
- Use Anti-virus and Malware software: Update your computer by installing and regularly updating anti-virus software.
- Seek Help: In case one encounters, suspects or comes across a situation of cyber crime then report such incident either at your nearest cyber cell or local police station.
[1]https://pcpc.gov.in/files/1.pdf
[2]https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/what-is-cybercrime