Don't Be a Victim Online

Monday, 17 October 2016 12:05

The OPP are releasing tips to protect yourself from online scams like "Phishing" and "Ransomware" during Cyber Awareness Month.

It's Cyber Awareness Month and the OPP are putting out weekly tips to keep everyone safe when they venture online.

This weeks tip is about Phishing. Phishing is any e-mail falsely claiming to be from an established organization. The e-mail might ask you to visit a website to upgrade or provide personal information. It is a malicious attempt to get your email passwords and financial information for the purpose of committing fraud.

Another to watch out for is called Ransomware. Ransomware is when you get a pop up or email that appears to be from a law enforcement agency. The message is a false accusation of illegal online activities and demands cash or money transfer to unlock the computer. When the victim submits their payment details, the criminals then steal and use the victim’s personal information.

Last year people lost $508,000 to phishing scams in Canada and $47,000 to Ransomware.

To recognize and avoid phishing:

- Protect your computer with anti-virus software, spyware filters, email filters and firewall programs.
- Contact the named financial institution immediately and report your suspicions.
- Do not reply to any email that requests your personal information.
- Look for misspelled words.
- Always report phishing or 'spoofed' emails.

Signs that you may have encountered Ransomware:

- A pop-up message or banner with a ransom request.
- A user cannot usually access anything on the computer beyond the screen.
- Sending money outside of the traditional or mainstream banking system.
- Sending money to “unlock” a computer.
- Tips to protect yourself from Ransomware:
- Never click on a pop-up that claims your computer has a virus.
- Update your anti-virus software often and scan your computer for viruses regularly.
- Don't click on links or attachments in e-mails sent to you by someone you don't know.
- Turn on your browser’s pop-up blocking feature.
- Never download anti-virus software from a pop-up or link sent to you in an e-mail.