A guide to understanding the dangers of the internet and learning how to prevent it

There is no denying that the internet has greatly facilitated the search for information, the purchase of products and contact with the world. However, it is not completely safe. Profile attacks, data theft and the spread of viruses affect thousands of people every day. Understand how you can detect problems and protect yourself.

infected equipment

Signs that equipment has been hacked can vary greatly. On the computer, they are indicative that a virus has installed sudden drops in performance, toolbars that appear unexpectedly or the involuntary change of the home page of the internet.

PCs need to be restarted in safe mode in addition to a data scan. If it doesn’t work, the machine should be examined by an expert, who will reformat it – that is, erase everything and reinstall the system from scratch.

On cell phones, the alert is the appearance of applications that were not installed. It also happens that the phone suddenly hangs up, the credit runs out quickly or the bill gets high. The solution is simple. An antivirus is installed, which removes so-called malware and protects against future infestations.

data theft

Last year, just one cybercriminal carried out one of the biggest leaks of confidential information in history in Brazil. According to the latest Digital Security Report in Brazil, by PSafe, published at the end of 2017, 1.4 billion pieces of data, including emails, passwords, credit card numbers and CPFs, were disclosed.

Once shared, they can be used in electronic fraud, cloning and bank withdrawals. They are still available on illegal bases where many criminals can view them.

Access to this data takes place through security holes in the code of the websites where users make purchases and also on platforms that contain registration data. It also happens due to carelessness on the part of people, who, in general, choose a password that is easy to deduce and start to adopt them in various services.

shopping danger

In Brazil, every five seconds an e-commerce company we buy from is the target of fraud, according to Konduto, an online security company. In the financial sector alone, the Central Bank points out that there was a 297% increase in complaints from people who fell for scams on the web between 2016 and 2017. head.

When looking for a store or service provider, it is necessary to verify that the website is official and the connection is secure – a padlock in the internet browser bar can ensure this. The Consumer Defense Code requires virtual establishments to inform CPF or CNPJ, physical address, telephone and contact e-mail, which many stores already do, even if the form is not so visible.

If e-commerce looks suspicious, it is recommended to call and check before any purchase. Another good resource is checking company reviews on social networks. It is also worth searching Procon for the list of dishonest sites that the body maintains on its page.

Read more: Internet safety tips for kids and teens

bank scam

Cell phones are already the preferred channel for 9.5 million Brazilians to pay bills and transfer funds. Which is good news as the apps are safer than internet banking. Still, you should avoid storing account and password on the device. It’s best to use the app on known Wi-Fi connections, like home. And be careful to disconnect from mobile banking whenever you complete operations.

Noticing any anomaly in the statement, you should contact the bank immediately. According to the Consumer Code, it is up to the institution to prove that the service was provided correctly and with the security that the customer expects. If the reversal of money or a solution does not occur within the period established for the investigation, it is recommended to go to court, in addition to registering a police report.

slander and defamation

In 2012, the Carolina Dieckman Law was sanctioned to punish virtual crimes, after the global actress had intimate photos published on the network. “In cases of undue exposure, slander, injury or defamation, time is crucial for preserving the evidence”, says lawyer Sandra, who advises the victim to take a print (copy) of the screen as soon as he identifies the offense. Then, she must go to a notary public and request a notarial act, a kind of authenticated copy. “It is necessary to file a court order to request the removal of the content.” In the case of nudity or pornography, the material must be deleted by the site that hosts it as soon as it is reported, even before a court order is issued.

Read more: Online Dating Safety Guide: Protect Yourself from Internet Scams

fake news

Fake news, or fake news, circulate faster than the real ones and reach even more people. Created mainly to manipulate opinions based on untrue facts, they are always hosted on sites that are little known or of dubious origin. Its authors often use addresses similar to those of major communication portals. When in doubt, do not click or forward. In addition to running the risk of being held responsible for criminally spreading lies about someone, it can infect friends’ devices if the message contains a virus.

To prevent:

security applications

These tools are fundamental. They identify, through artificial intelligence, if a link is false or if the page is asking for something it shouldn’t, and then automatically block it. For the computer, the best known brands are Norton, Kapersky and BullGuard. As for mobile, CM Security, DFNDR Security and Avast Mobile.

unconventional passwords

Avoid combinations that can be easily guessed, such as sequential numbers, phone numbers, and date of birth. The ideal is to create long passwords, with about ten characters, mixing uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers. The same password should not be used across multiple sites and services. It’s a good idea to change them every three months.

periodic backups

It is essential to regularly carry out backup copies, so-called backups. They prevent the unforeseen loss of information or documents and also preserve the files in case they need to be formatted again. There are numerous programs for this purpose, both for computers and cell phones.

Read more: Social networks are the main targets of information theft