Mobile and online gaming, which were steadily growing over the years, have become an even more popular pastime since the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
According to the recent NortonLifeLock Digital Wellness Report, 87% of the respondents in a survey believed that online gaming takes a toll on one’s health and were worried about the fact that online gaming could expose children to online threats. Many online games use chat services – an aspect that hackers and cybercriminals can exploit. It emerged that almost 81% of the respondents in the survey were using parental control mechanisms on their devices, while 70% were aware of the fact that connecting with strangers while playing online games could lead to problems like cyberbullying.
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However, the report indicated that children aren’t the only ones at risk of cyber threats or harassment. Adults, too, display potentially risky online behaviour in certain matters – online dating, for instance – that raise genuine concerns about privacy and data security. Almost 40% of the respondents were okay with sharing personal details with someone they had only just contacted through a dating app, without having met the person in real life. That is exactly the kind of behaviour that we must be wary about. One must always be cautious while sharing any kind of personal information with a stranger, whether over a dating app or email, the report stated.
The report found that female respondents (84%) were more aware than men (74%) about security threats and that they had security software installed on their smartphones. Furthermore, about 71% of female respondents (versus 63% of male respondents) concerned themselves with app privacy and permissions on their phones. In terms of generation, Gen Z users (95%) were found to be more proactive than millennials (94%) and Gen X users (90%) in adjusting the privacy permissions on their phones.
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Some of the best practices to help safeguard online identity includes the use of strong passwords. It is important not to reuse passwords across websites and apps. Passwords have to be complex and one can pick a random word that includes a combination of at least 10 letters, numbers, and symbols.
The software must be updated because cybercriminals frequently use known exploits, or flaws, in the user’s software to gain access to a system. Patching those exploits and flaws can help make it less likely to become a cybercrime target. One must be on the lookout for phishing efforts and questionable offers. Clicking on dubious email or text message links or open attachments from an unknown source can be avoided. These links could lead to a site that asks for personal information, or that puts malware on the device. In case one comes across an attractive offer on an item, ensure it is from a legitimate retailer. A user must invest in a comprehensive all-in-one protective solution that offers real-time protection against existing and emerging threats including anti-malware, spam and phishing, and increased cloud technologies to help safeguard consumers’ devices and information as they bank, shop and find love online, even when connecting on public Wi-Fi.
Also Read: Cybersecurity: How to keep kids safe online
A user must never post address or personal information on the profile as this can lead to a whole host of problems beyond identity theft such as stalking and harassment.
Courtesy: TOI
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