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European Cyber Security Month runs throughout the month of October to help raise awareness of digital security and cyber hygiene. Throughout the month, hundreds of activities occur across Europe, including conferences, workshops, training, webinars, and presentations. The theme for 2023 is based on Social Engineering, which is the tactic of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving a victim to gain control over a device system or to steal sensitive data. The goal of European Cyber Security Month 2023 is to raise awareness and empower individuals of all ages to protect themselves online.

We have some tips to help you avoid being manipulated by a cyber criminal:

Don’t talk to strangers

Don’t communicate with individuals online that you haven’t met in person. You can’t guarantee that this person is who they say they are, but cyber criminals can build up trust to manipulate a victim. Once trust has been built, cyber criminals can begin trying to make their way into the victim’s accounts or systems by asking for login or account details etc.

Be cautious of unexpected requests for your information

Never hand out passwords, login details, bank details or any sensitive information that would allow a cyber criminal to access one of your accounts. Remember, your bank will never ask for login details or bank details via phone, text or email.

Nobody gives away anything for free

Don’t fall for those too good to be true offers. Cyber criminals will use these offers to create a sense of urgency, creating this sense of urgency that pushes the victim to act quickly rather than having time to think over the offer. Remember if an offer seems too good to be genuine, then it probably is.

Be on alert when asked to act quickly and under pressure

Never make any impulsive decisions; instead, think about any decision before you make it. It is better to be safe than sorry, so instead of rushing, ensure that the situation is genuine.

Don’t share personal information 

Keep all of your personal information secure, as this is highly valuable. Personal information includes passwords, bank details, credit/debit card numbers, and identification details.

Before clicking on a link, always verify its authenticity

Never click on a link unless you are sure that it is genuine. There are a few signs to spot an unauthentic link, such as a poorly written web address, spelling mistakes, and unknown domains. If a link is sent to you via email or text, never click on it unless you know who sent it and it is a genuine email address.

It is always better to be cautious 

Always be cautious as this will protect you in the long run. If something doesn’t feel right, or it seems too good to be true, take the time to research before taking any actions.

Cyber criminals pose as people or organisations you think you know

Cyber criminals often research an individual or an organisation to learn more about them. For example, a criminal may research an organisation and learn the names of the employees, they will then pose as one of these employees, which can often trick the victim into believing they know the sender. Always check that the email addresses etc are spelled correctly, as they may only have one character different. Always use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

If you ever fall into the trap of cyber criminals, make it difficult for them

Always have backups of your important information; therefore, in the event of a cyber criminal gaining access to your data, you will have a backup. Use strong passwords to make it difficult for a cyber criminal to gain access to your systems and keep all your devices updated.

Cyber criminals can come across as normal individuals, catching victims off guard. Watch this short clip to understand a cyber criminal profile and how difficult they can be to spot.  Follow our tips, which will reduce your risk of manipulation.