Digital Security

DIGITAL SECURITY

Digital security is a growing problem in this technology age and era and it is very important for users to make an effort to know about such risks. “Digital security refers to ensuring the ability to use digital information and information systems without interference, disruption, unauthorized access or data collection” (Security ina-box, n.d.). Ribble (2011) defines it as the “electronic precautions to guarantee digital safety” (digitalcitizenship, n.d.).

Certain issues surround digital security and such are:

• Malware -  malicious software, software that is used to compromise computer functions, steal data, bypass controls, or otherwise harm the computer that hosts it. 
• Digital fraud and crime - Digital Fraud and Crime includes crimes such as scams, child pornography, identity theft, social media re-engineering, cyber bullying, cyber stalking and cyber harassment. Although to a large extent the Internet is required for many of these crimes to take place, it is also telecommunication devices and tablets that are involved.
• Online privacy issues - The first is that of cookies, which are innocuous in their intent, but if hacked can reveal user’s authentication and other stored information. Cookies are used to better enable user’s navigation, store information about the user’s online behavior, as well as store user preferences (which can at times include financial information). The second most common issue is terms and conditions. Most people have been victims simply because users can not take their time to read the terms and conditions before agreeing to something over the internet.

With security issues being on the rise every year it is important for one to know hoe to protect themselves from these malicious scams as cyber crimes are on the rise.

To protect yourself as a user one must:

• Protection for devices from malware and hackers 
• Protect your information 
• Creating and maintaining secure passwords 
• Protecting sensitive files on your computer 
• Keeping your Internet communication private 
• How to remain anonymous and bypass censorship on the Internet 
• Protecting yourself and your data on social media platforms

According to cybercrime.org.za cyber crime” means any criminal or other offence that is facilitated by or involves the use of electronic communications or information systems, including any device or the Internet or any one or more of them.

cyber crime seems to be on a rise and being educated on the different types of cyber crimes is very important so that users can protect themselves.

Types of cyber crimes:

Attacks on computer systems

• Attacks can result in a criminal accessing your personal or financial details and can prevent you from being able to use your device or computer system properly. Such attacks include unauthorized access or hacking,denial of service attacks and malware.

Cyber-bullying

• Cyber-bullying or stalking occurs when someone engages in offensive, menacing or harassing behavior through the use of technology. It can happen to people at any age, anytime, and often anonymously.

Email spam and phishing

• Spam is electronic junk mail – unsolicited messages sent by email, text message or instant message without the recipient’s consent. Spam messages often contain offers of free goods or ‘prizes’, cheap products, promises of wealth or other similar offers. You might be asked to pay a joining fee, to buy something to ‘win’ a prize or to call or text a 190 telephone number (calls made to these numbers are charged at premium rates).
• Phishing is a way that criminals trick people into giving out their personal or financial details. Phishing messages often pretend to come from legitimate businesses, such as banks or telecommunications providers.
• All in all these two scams involve the use of personal information of users all over the internet. As a user it is vital that you be careful of what information you give out over the telephone or internet.

Identity theft

• Identity theft occurs when a criminal gains access to your personal information (such as your name, address, date of birth or bank account details) to steal money or gain other benefits. Even if you think thieves only have a small amount of information about you, they can use it to find more information about you, including photographs, your date and place of birth and even information about your family. This can be enough to apply for services, such as a new bank account. They can also use your personal information to create fake identity documents in your name or even apply for real identity documents in your name, but with another person’s photograph.

Prohibited offensive and illegal content

• Some online content is prohibited under country laws because it is offensive or illegal. Such material can be found on websites, forums, peer-to-peer networks, and sites providing access to live streamed video. When inadvertently accessed, prohibited offensive and illegal content can be highly distressing – especially for children.

Online child sexual abuse material

• Material that shows or describes child sexual abuse or other offences against children is illegal under many country laws.

It is an offence to:

• access, possess, distribute, produce, advertise or make available child pornography or child abuse material
• procure, groom or engage in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age, or
• send indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age.

Online scams or fraud

With the growth in online services and internet use, there are many opportunities for criminals to commit scams and fraud. These are dishonest schemes that seek to take advantage of unsuspecting people to gain a benefit (such as money, or access to personal details). These are often contained in spam and phishing messages.

Common types of online scams include:

• Unexpected prize scams,
• Unexpected money scams,
• Dating or romance scams,
• Threats and extortion scams,
• Jobs and investment scams, and
• Identity theft.

Online trading issues

Online trading issues involve scammers targeting people who buy, sell or trade online. There are many types of scams which aim to rip off unsuspecting shoppers. Online trading scammers may:

• Advertise products for sale at cheap prices, and once purchased the products never arrive
• Pay the seller a larger amount than advertised, invent an excuse for the over-payment and then request the excess amount be repaid either back to the scammer or to a third party before the seller realises the fraud
• Offer ‘miracle’ cures for medical conditions where none exist (especially for weight loss)
• Target small businesses and attempt to bill them for a particular service – usually a listing or advertisement – which the business never asked for
• Take advantage of natural disasters by impersonating charities requesting donations
• Claim your computer is infected with a virus and request remote access to fix the problem, or
• Attract you with offers for ‘free’ goods by subscribing to mobile premium services.

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