The West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit has a specialised team dedicated to helping organisations of any size or function to enhance their cyber security. The current cyber crime trends that are most prevalent involve account takeover and ransomware.
In simple terms, phishing techniques such as emails and cold calling dupe victims into thinking they are logging into their usual accounts, only to have their credentials stolen and then taken over.
The most effective way to protect yourself from being a victim of cyber crime is to follow these four simple steps:
- Use multi-factor authentication to validate any logins to online services or payments.
- Don’t use personal information in your passwords – use ‘three random words’ to prevent hackers from guessing your login. Learn more tips for staying secure online from the National Cyber Security Centre.
- Install any software updates as soon as possible – most phone and app updates close vulnerabilities and access to criminals.
- Ensure your data is backed up – for Android or iOS smartphones ensure your cloud is backed up to preserve your logins, photos, and personal documents.
For more information, please visit the West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit website