The number of cyberattacks by email or instant message continues to increase. The National Center for Cyber Security (NCSC) on Monday launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of online scams.
Cyberattacks often rely on an email or instant message. Perpetrators attempt to trick their victims by promising them large gains or an inheritance, or by claiming that their computer has been hacked, the NCSC wrote in a statement.
Cybercriminals abuse their victims by scaring them, taking advantage of their panic or inattention. A seemingly innocuous action, such as activating a link or opening an attachment, can cause great damage, recalls the national center.
In some cases, the victim must provide their bank card details, which are then used for abusive purposes. In other cases, malware capable of encrypting and stealing data is installed on the targeted computer.
Clues to spot
But with a little care, it is possible to quickly identify fraudulent messages and avoid any damage, reassures the NCSC. Several clues and methods are characteristic of cyberattacks.
In collaboration with Swiss Crime Prevention and the cantonal and municipal police, the NCSC is launching an awareness campaign among the population in order to make them aware of the methods for identifying fraudulent messages. The most important information can be found on the campaign’s website, SUPER.ch.
The characteristics of fraudulent messages are explained using concrete examples. A quiz is then used to assess the knowledge acquired.
S-U-P-E-R.ch
/ATS