Famous Cyber Crimes. Part 1.

In our time, there are a lot of rumours about cybercriminals (hackers). That, they hack any computer — just spit. Few people know that this current originates in the distant eighties. Basically, hackers were engaged in writing special programs (viruses), the purpose of which was to complicate the life of an ordinary PC user. But gradually this fun began to escalate into something more.

One of the first cyber crimes

One of the first and unsolved crimes is the launch of a network virus in NASA’s space program. Because of this cyber attack, the space organization had to postpone the launch of some satellites into space, as a computer worm could cause software failures at launch.

In 2001, a seventeen-year-old young man named Gregory Hernes decided that NASA did not fully use its server space. He corrected this defect and began to store his favorite movies on their hard drives. It took four years to catch this humorist. For his tricks, the hacker received 6 months in prison and a fine. Though his lawyers up to the end tried to convince court that their client changed the attitude to the act and asked indulgence.

Other small stories

But cyber attacks are not just about harm or jokes. Sometimes there are noble crimes. In early 2001, a hacker with the nickname Beale Screamer created a useful program whose task was to make life easier for many users of the network. It bypassed the protection components of Microsoft programs, i.e. allowed illegal copying of their products.

But not everything is so rosy. In late 2008, one of the most complex and spectacular cyberattacks took place. In just half an hour, ATMs were hacked in fifty cities around the world and more than $ 9 million were stolen at the same time. Due to the weak protection of the RBS WorldPay system, hackers managed to copy plastic cards and break such a huge jackpot.

In the Canadian magazine Le Journal de Montral works one of the computer geniuses of our time. In this magazine there was a very big competition at employment so the young fourteen-year-old guy by the name of Mike Kalch quite peculiar gave the summary to the future employer. He alone organized one of the largest DoS attacks. EBay, Yahoo, CNN and Amazon resources were attacked. Thanks to his age, the guy got off with a probation period of one year and nine months of house arrest. The net losses of the companies, which the young man encroached on, amounted to about six million dollars. After such a statement about himself, he was hired by the magazine.

Do you want to read more articles about cyber crimes? Click here!

How to protect yourself from cyber crimes?

Whatever the causes of cybercrime, they are still crimes. In the age of modern technologies, protection against such malicious actions becomes almost the main item in the cost list of modern companies. But still, there are craftsmen, bypassing these levels of protection, no matter how much they are not put in front of them.

So how to protect your PC laptop or smartphone from cyber crimes?

Why is it important to have antivirus software?

Have a good Antivirus

Antivirus software is essential for every PC. If you don’t install it, you risk losing your personal information, your files and documents, and even the money from your bank account.

We call it antivirus, but in truth, it’s unlikely you’ll get hit with an actual computer virus. Malware these days is about making money, and there’s no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. Ransomware and data-stealing Trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot-herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more.

Why is it important to have antivirus software?

Antivirus products distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on-demand scanning and real-time malware protection. Some rate URLs that you visit or that show up in search results, using a red-yellow-green colour-coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware-hosting URLs or with fraudulent (phishing) pages.

If you want to read more about Antiviruses and to know which antivirus is the best, click HERE.

Beyond Antivirus: VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, is one of the smartest ways to protect your online privacy and maintain your data security.

To say simpler, imagine a tunnel — between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service. While you’re connected to a VPN, all your network traffic passes through this protected tunnel, and no one—not even your ISP—can see your traffic.

What to do with VPN?

Using VPN you will be protected from the interception of usernames/passwords in an insecure or public WI-FI access points, the story of your visit to the sites will not be available to anyone, and the blocking of sites you will be forgotten like a bad dream. This applies to torrents and any other allegedly prohibited sites.

• VPN allows you to unblock content from anywhere
• VPN hides your IP address to ensure anonymity
• and VPN keeps no logs, your details are never shared with third parties

If you use VPN you may find better prices for everything: hotels, tickets, goods. You may ask why. The answer is simple – a lot of companies offer different prices to customers from different companies.

What to do with VPN?

Do you want to read more about VPN? Click HERE!

Security and reliability of your passwords

What is specialized software?

Every password can be a key for hackers, so it is critical that your IT-professionals can monitor the strength of passwords across the company. Especially if your company has a lot of stuff. Secure every password-protected entry point to your business.  

With LastPass you can set master password requirements, allow access only from certain devices and locations, oblige users to use the necessary features, and use several other features. Moreover, it allows you to store digital records: WiFi logins, software licenses, employee IDs, and more.

Simply and securely connect employees to work. From authentication to access to passwords, LastPass manages every entry point to your business so you can mitigate risk while improving employee productivity.

Remember that your security begins in your head!