The 7 most common hacking methods: The second is the most popular

When it comes to hacking, there are different approaches hackers use. Today, we will be telling you some of the 7 most common hacking methods. As Hackers have lots of ideas when it comes to attacking your data, understanding their ways of operating might allow you to protect yourself online.

1. The ransomware

Increasingly popular, ransomware is a malicious program that encrypts data and then sends a ransom demand to the owner in exchange for the key to decrypt it. Here are some examples of ransomware: Wannacrypt, Locky, TeslaCrypt, Cryptolocker…
How to protect yourself?

• Back up your data regularly.
• Learn how to identify dubious file extensions. If in doubt, don’t open them.
• Do not open emails of questionable form or origin.

2. Phishing or phishing

This method of hacking consists of luring the Internet user in order to encourage him to communicate his personal and/or banking data by pretending to be a trusted third party (bank, insurance, etc.).
How to protect yourself?

• Never share your password. Moreover, no reliable site will ask you again.
• Check that your antivirus is up to date.
• When you are about to pay for a purchase on the internet, check that the website is secure. The address must begin with “HTTPS”.
• If you are unsure about an email, do not open the attachment or the link it contains. Connect directly from your browser by entering the official address.

3. Malware

Hidden in software downloads or USB keys, malware has one goal: to harm a computer system.
How to protect yourself? To protect yourself from this hacking method:

• Only install software from trusted sources.
• Never connect a USB drive found by chance or received in the mailbox, it can be trapped.

4. The booby-trapped USB key

This hacking method can do damage in seconds. Indeed, a USB drive found may contain various elements that can steal or encrypt your data for ransom.
How to protect yourself? It’s very simple, never connect a found USB key!

5. fake websites

Administrative sites, online stores… fake websites are not lacking and are there to recover payment data or passwords. Be careful, fake websites are perfect copies of the original sites.
How to protect yourself? To avoid being tricked by fake websites, never enter your payment details or passwords on sites that do not have a name starting with “HTTPS”.

6. Password Theft

This hacking method consists of recovering the passwords of the victims. To do this, hackers use software intended to try as many possible combinations as possible in order to find your password. For this, they use the data collected on social networks.
How to protect yourself? When you create your password, follow a few rules:

• Create a complex password: letters, capitals, special characters and numbers.
• Avoid using the dates of birth, names of your children, telephone numbers… or other elements appearing on social networks.
• Have a different password for each account.
• Install and then regularly update your antivirus and anti-spyware.

7. fake wifi networks

In a public place, there are often several wifi networks. Before connecting, check the reliability of the network you are interested in to avoid having your data stolen.
How to protect yourself?

• If you have to connect, make sure that the network is reliable, even if it means asking for confirmation from one of the people in charge of the place: bartender, librarian, receptionist, salesperson, etc.
• Never install an update.
• Never buy through these networks, wait until you are on a reliable network.
• Never connect to important sites: bank account, emails, cloud…