When a data breach happens, criminals may instantly expose millions of personal, financial, and medical information. They can then use that compromised data to break into other systems, help commit consumer frauds schemes, or be sold to the highest bidder. If that compromised information also contains personally identifiable information (PII), those exposed may fall victim to identity theft.

When consumers get online, they enter a vast environment of potential threats. These threats may be after money, information, or network access, and cybersecurity defenses work to prevent these valuables from falling into criminals’ hands.

Insurance scams are deceptive activities that allow criminals to manipulate insurance systems to obtain an illegitimate claim. They can come from many sources and appear during the process of underwriting, selling, using, or buying insurance, and can come from many sources. As we’re concerned, insurance scams are those that fraudsters commit against an insurance provider using the authentic details of a patient.

Cyber attacks are a growing threat to all industries, nations, and people. They occur with increasing frequency, with the last year reporting 3,205 data compromises and over $12.5 billion in projected losses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The more often data breaches occur, the more at-risk individuals and organizations become. There are many ways to help prevent and defend against data compromises, but some of the most effective methods also hinder consumers.

Inspect your credit card, and you’ll likely find interesting—and crucial—elements of the plastic rectangle. The front might display the provider’s name, a chip, some digits, or an entire card number; the back might hold much the same, along with a signature, when necessary, and a “valid thru ” date. All the information on a credit card is necessary to conceal, but when data breaches happen more often than ever, it’s a matter of time before every card is online.

Credit and debit cards have become the most prominent form of wealth access in the last decade. Once consumers pulled out thick wallets of cash—they now pull out thin clips of cards—if they bother using a card, not a watch or cellphone. Credit cards are necessary in modern life because they allow individuals to access their money instantly and because they can be better protected than physical money.

In early 2023, the FBI made a public service announcement warning that scammers had been targeting owners of timeshares in Mexico; they reported an estimated $39.6 million in losses involving only Mexico timeshares. Worldwide, countless more scammers are influencing consumers into signing binding contracts and pushing them into an endless cycle of issues. When created, timeshares and vacation clubs were exclusive, high-end vacation options. Each offered a unique option to those who purchased the services.

The sun produces enough energy every 90 minutes to power the world for a year. Despite this, in 2020, only around 0.2% of solar’s potential power production was utilized. Many organizations and nations have planned to move toward solar power. Still, consumers must have individual wealth, knowledge to vet potential installation companies, and wisdom to recognize and avoid potential traps.

When someone is born on US soil, they are a national citizen; with this distinction, they obtain a list of entitlements and benefits, as well as societal obligations and predetermined consequences for bad behavior. Digital citizenship works like this, with unique freedoms, consequences, and obligations.

In 2020, the world moved online, and the pandemic kicked industry demand into overdrive. Seemingly overnight, entire organizations yielded to the mandates pushed by health professionals, encouraging anyone not already online to make an account or two. That year, transaction card fraud totaled around $149 million in losses in the US and has only increased since then, up to $48 billion globally.

More organizations than ever are moving to online processes, offering convenience and efficiency to their consumers and clients. However, the move to digital isn’t without its risks; security audits assess the current state of an organization’s IT and data environments and then offer recommendations to improve them. Security audits are an essential aspect of an organization’s approach to data defense, especially when threats are moving and growing daily.

How do you browse the Internet? Using a primary browser, you can turn on “incognito mode,” which increases your privacy on singular devices but is also less concealing than other privacy tools like virtual private networks (VPNs). The functionality of these modes differs between browsers. While the mode offers reliable personal security, it also lacks cybersecurity defenses and is often used by those with misconceptions about how the tool works. So, what is incognito mode?

How far are you willing to go to obtain love? Online threats surround us every time we get on the Internet—all of them are out for more than a lasting emotional connection. Romance scams are the most insidious of online threats, not because they wreck the emotional and financial statuses of their victims but because they are incredibly well-thought-out.

Many members of the younger generations avoid answering phone calls. On the one hand, this avoidance may be personal, as voice calls can sometimes cause anxiety; however, there is more to these rejections than nervousness. In our ever-evolving world, threat actors are always looking for a new way to manipulate and steal from their victims—and phone calls have become a strange, new frontier for cybercriminal fraud, unlike anything the world has seen before.

Facebook (FB) is the most popular social platform worldwide, hosting 2.9 billion monthly active users. The draw to FB comes from its social connectivity, allowing friends and family to stay connected, updated, and in each other’s lives, no matter where they are. Facebook’s success is also due, in part, to its platform services. The Facebook Marketplace is among the most used, with nearly 16% of active users (491 million people) using the platform to review the available items.

MLM (multi-level marketing) business models are believed to have existed since the 1920s - it is estimated that approximately over 1,000 companies in the US currently use this model. MLM has gained immense popularity over the past years, especially among individuals who wish to earn extra income, want flexible work opportunities, have financial independence, or become entrepreneurs without the associated risks and overhead costs of starting a business.

Data is among the most valuable information we have. It includes everything about us, our families, friends, and organizations; broadly, “data” encompasses all aspects of information; it can relate to public records, sensitive data, confidential, financial, medical, or any other aspect associated with an individual or company.

Time theft happens when employees dishonestly use their paid work hours for personal activities or tasks unrelated to work. Time fraud significantly impacts an organization’s productivity, business strategy, finances, and employee morale. To keep a high-performing work environment, companies must combat time theft.

Snapchat is a mobile-based social media platform owned by Snap Inc.; it is a global platform, hosting over 734.8 million users, the majority of which are Gen Z. The platform began as a resource for sharing pictures between friends but has evolved to include options for creator content, group conversations, and the sharing of media. As Snapchat’s audience continues to grow, so too, do the threats those members face.

In today’s digital landscape, cryptography plays a vital role in keeping information secure. Encryption is one of the primary techniques used in cryptography to ensure that data transmission online is secure and that sensitive information stays protected from unauthorized access. Through encryption, organizations and individuals can mitigate the risk of data breaches and ensure that their confidential information remains that way.