In this Article, we will talk how hackers get personal information Swiftly

How hackers get personal information

‘Hacking’ is not a new word anymore. With the advent of digitization, hacking has been the most effective tool to steal data.

People think that hackers only look for big companies or rich persons. But, the truth is hacking doesn’t fall into any category. Whatever be your social or financial status, your personal data can be stolen by hackers.

Statistics show that one in fifteen persons in the world has been a victim of identity theft. Till 2018, more than 800 million malware attacks have happened. 65% of hacking is related to identity theft and in 2017 over 1500 data breaches happened. Millions of people in the USA are the victims of identity theft. The financial loss is not in millions, but the number is in billions.

Unfortunately, hacking is increasing every year. Microsoft and Facebook like giant companies are failing to stop hackers.

But, why?

It’s because hackers are smart and our carefree attitude is making them smarter. That’s why today the following discussion will throw light at the dark corners. You will know the secrets – how hackers are setting traps and you are falling into it! So, read the discussion carefully and fight against hackers.

8 Astonishing Ways Hackers Steal Your Personal Data

1) Unsecured WIFI Usages

Public WiFi may look tempting. But, these connections are not secured. Hackers look for weak passwords and they may use signal catchers. Hence, they need to come close to your device. So, whenever you use public WiFi, you should look around you. If you notice any kind of suspicious activity, then disconnect the WiFi instantly.

2) Unprotected Chat Boxes/Apps

You may work from home or you may be a freelancer. As a result, you may have to use a chat box to communicate with your office. Now, if you use an unprotected chat box, then your chat app can be hacked. Then, hackers could steal your personal information. So, you should always use an encrypted chat box. The end-to-end encrypted chat boxes enable only the receiver and the sender to view their messages. Hence, they are safe.

3) Customer Loyalty Accounts Offering Rewards

In the USA, millions of customers are choosing online shopping. That’s why these shopping companies are in cut-throat competition. They lure their customers with rewards.

Customers give almost all the answers to these companies for those rewards. But, thieves can hack these accounts and they can know so many things about you. So, share your personal information carefully. Moreover, you should have a hard-to-break password for your online customer loyalty accounts.

4) Unauthorized Flyers

Some hackers have gone too far to catch. They can use your frequent-flyer programs to book flights. These hackers can impersonate your identity and they can fly without anybody’s permission.

You might be thinking that it’s not your fault. But, you should always use strong passwords and you should change your passwords often. Otherwise, thieves can enjoy luxurious travels using your money.

5) The Tax Trap

Americans often fall into the tax traps. In reality, during the tax season, people remain busy. They try to return their taxes without any blunders. Now, this sense of perfectness is an advantage to hackers.

Digital pirates can send you e-mails and they might trick you to believe that they are the tax authorities. They would demand personal information from you. Even, they can call you impersonating an IRS officer.

If you face such a situation, you shouldn’t make a decision in a hurry. First of all, avoid all types of phishing emails. Secondly, before sharing your personal information, it’s your duty to check the background of the caller. So, contact IRS yourself.

6) Lost Wallets

In today’s world, you may not carry physical (paper) dollars in your wallet. But, you may have your driving license, credit card, debit card, or passport in your wallet.

Now, imagine your wallet is stolen. You would be in a helpless condition. Hackers may steal your identity and they can do whatever they wish. That’s why you should not carry important personal documents with you.

Nowadays, hackers don’t even need your credit card’s full details. They just need some partial information and they can guess the rest using advanced software. This skill is called – distributed guessing. Hence, you should fight this alarming situation quite smartly.

7) Social Engineering

This may look like a new term. But, this one term has been responsible for 5 billion world-wide data breaches.

So, what’s it?

Social engineering targets your social media accounts. Hackers may not hack your account directly. Rather they hack your social media friend’s account. Then, they would send you a message and they would ask for money. This is not your friend. But, you think that your friend needs your help and you send him/her money.

So, every time your social media friend needs help, contact your friend directly. Try to talk to him/her. Because social engineering is setting notoriously smart traps.

8) Keep An Eye Over Your Mails

Thieves can look into your mail box and they can know about your financial situation. You might be in debt or you may have credit card details in your mail. However, after skimming off your personal data, they might contact you. Then, you could be in trouble.

So, you should safeguard your vulnerable mailbox. Lock it or keep it under a CCTV camera. Moreover, you should always verify a suspicious caller’s background. Thus, you may shield yourself from these scammers.

What Can Hackers Do With Your (Stolen) Personal Data?

• Can Sell Your Data
• Can Put Your Financial Assets At Risk
• Can Be Used For Extortion and Criminal Activities
• Can Leak Your Company’s Confidential Information
• Can Use Your Identity Against You

So, don’t share your personal information without verifying the source. Use a strong password and never use an unprotected WiFi connection. Follow these rules and you may be able to block some hacker’s prying eyes.