The 5 Most Common Ways for Hackers to Gain Personal Info

Hackers are always coming up with new and creative ways to steal your personal information. From crashing websites to creating fake Wi-Fi access points, hackers have created phishing or malware attacks for which users might not be prepared. That’s why it’s so important to use Safe Navigation when you’re browsing the web. Safe Navigation gives you warnings about malicious sites that want to steal your money or personal information. Make sure you’re safely browsing online, especially when making online purchases:

In addition to using DFNDR, though, make sure you’re familiar with common phishing and malware attacks that you might encounter. The more scams you know of, the more likely you can avoid them.

Read more: Coachella’s Site Was Hacked: Is Your Credit Card Info Safe?

1. Bait and Switch

To set up this hack, hijackers create malicious programs or apps that the user believes to be authentic. Once the user installs the program on his or her computer, the hijacker can gain access to the computer’s or phone’s entire system.

2. Virus/Trojan

These are downloaded onto a person’s computer when he or she downloads an app or clicks a link into which these trojans are embedded. After downloading, the virus sends the user’s information to the hacker.

3. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that downloads onto a user’s computer after a user clicks a link or download an app that surreptitiously downloads the ransomware onto the computer. When the hacker wants to enable ransomware, he or she locks down your operating system, taking away your access to your files and documents until you pay a fee, or a “ransom.”

4. UI Redress

Otherwise known as Clickjacking, hackers hide the user interface where the user is supposed to click. After, the hacker takes the user to where the hacker wants them to go, not where they intended to navigate.  

5. Phishing

In this scam, hackers replicate common website addresses and send users a link to their duplicated site, instead of to the real one. The hacker then takes that person’s information when it’s entered into the fake site.

Be wary whenever you’re asked to click on a link or provide your personal information online. While these are some of the common ways that hackers retrieve your information, new and sophisticated hacks are being created every day, too.