We can’t give up diligence.
Some websites ask you to confirm that you are a human. So you click a box and moments later you can access your site. Sometimes an alert pops up and says you need to fix a problem.
On Windows, victims may be asked to key in commands like this:
- Win + R (which opens up the Windows Run box)
- Ctrl + V (which pastes the malware code into the Run box)
- Enter (which starts running the malware)
On a Mac device, they may be asked to key in:
- Command + Space (which opens Spotlight)
- Type “Terminal”
- Press Enter (opening up Terminal, an interface in which code can be entered into the system)
- Command + V (which pastes the malware code into the Terminal)
- Return (which starts running the malware) ”
Legitimate sites won’t ask you to fix anything. If you followed the prompts above, unplug or disconnect your wifi. Run a scan if you have anti-virus software or take your device to a professional for help. Check your financial accounts for irregularities.
Excerpt From
“Scammers are using a fake captcha hack to steal your information: ‘Verify you’re human.’ Here’s the big red flag”
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Moneywise.com, Laura Boast, https://apple.news/Aq302MIALSAGs42nzNb-aFQ
Your life on the web is usually anchored by your email and a password. Our email is our identity and is connected to private information so guard it to avoid problems. If someone captures our email address, certain techniques can be used to access your personal information. Just be careful who you share it with. Best to use MFA (multi-factor identification) when signing in. When you log into a site, it sends a code to you often as a text to your mobile device or email to you to enter before proceeding. Use Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator for codes that do not require your phone. A simple search for how to use them will return an explanations and examples. Best practices might use multiple emails. One for social contacts, another for family/friends and another for business or financial communications.
Sign ins using Apple or Google might seem safe but consider where you are logging into as some personal information is shared.
Password managers such as Apple Passwords or 1Password are very helpful to protect your passwords and generation of complex ones for log-ins.
Be careful with what you share as once you send it, then it’s out of your control. Try to sign into secure portals for sharing financial or health information.
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Signs that you may have been hacked.
Your computer acting in unusual ways such as staying on for no reason.
Camera or microphones light up when you are not using them
Surges in data use,
Processes or shutting down take a long time.
Rapid battery drain on laptops
Apps appear that you don’t remember downloading
Malware use seems to be growing. Keep your apps and operating system up to date to maintaining security updates. Look at your Applications folder from time to time. Do you recognize every app?
Use a malware app to help reduce malware attacks and removing bad actors. Be aware of spam calls or email requesting information or offering something to “help or protect” you. Be skeptical. You can use this site to see if you have exposed to the dark web. https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Examine your bank account for unusual small charges, even a few cents. These may be tests to see what can be accessed and if you are paying attention.
Emails from someone you have not dealt with before require caution. Advise companies that send suspicious emails. Most large companies have an address such as fraud@att.com or phishing@apple.com to report such abuse. Just do a web search on how to report this to the company. Maybe its’s time to change your password log-on to your email.