Combating Cyber Crime: A Crucial Time To Be Security Conscious

The internet has revolutionized the communication world like never before in the 21^st century and has thus become a global broadcasting medium for information dissemination for individuals and organizations without considering distance or bearing geographical locations in one's mind. As people and organizations go about using the internet for activities such as online shopping, banking, educations, gaming, trading and dating as well as email communication others also use the internet for nefarious activities such as online fraud, identity theft, cyber bullying and other types of malicious activities which incidentally are on the rise.

For instance, in 2020 the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications indicated that one thousand and ninety seven cases (1,097) cases of cyber fraud were reported at the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service out of which resulted in a whooping loss of $19 Million.

This notwithstanding a stunning total of $239,609,224.01 have been stolen from citizens over the course of 5 years – from 2016 to 2020 and this highlights a major threat facing Ghanaians and one will dare say as technology continues to evolve, so does the rise in evil threats posed by cybercriminals ascend. It is estimated that of 80% percent of financial losses due to cybercrime come from fraud related activities.

The Effects of Cybercrimes on Users and Organizations 

The effects of cybercrimes on users and organizations in Ghana can be devastating. Financial losses caused by online crime can have a negative impact on individuals as well as businesses severely, forcing victims into bankruptcy or even leading them to close down their operations entirely. It is essential that individuals and organizations take proactive steps towards protecting themselves against cybercrime threats by educating themselves about safe computing practices, utilizing up-to-date anti-virus software on all devices connected to the internet and reporting suspicious behaviour immediately whenever possible.

Some of the Best Practices in Combating Cybercrime

As we navigate through the internet especially with the increasing rise in the usage of handy devices such as tablets and phones, some of the best defence against cybercrime is to have knowledge of potential threats and scams that exist. Everyone must try and educate themselves on the risks associated with using the internet, such as identity theft or malware attacks.

For your safety and protection when setting up new devices ensure any security settings are enabled and up to date. Always use strong passwords for logins and don't share this information with anyone else, avoid public  Wi-fi network,  regularly updating your operating system, using anti-virus software,  firewall etc. If it is also possible set up a two-factor authentication, this adds an extra layer of security when logging in from an unknown device or location since it requires users to enter two different forms of authentication prior to gaining access to an account or device.

Many viruses can come through phishing emails – these are emails sent from fraudsters disguised as legitimate and coming from organisations asking you to provide personal details or to click on malicious links. If you receive such emails like this, make sure to check it carefully before clicking any links or giving out personal details.

In addition, ensure that all software installed on your device is kept up to date with the latest security patches and antivirus protection with regular scans run by your computer’s defence system.

Allowing pop-ups can also increase chances of falling victim to hacker attacks so make sure only trusted applications are allowed access within your browser's settings.

By keeping yourself abreast on the latest cybercrime trends and taking proactive steps towards protecting yourself online, you will be better equipped in defending yourself against cyber criminals effectively.

By Baaba Johnson