6 Facts About Cybersecurity Everyone with a Computer Should Know

The following content is created in partnership with Guardio. It does not reflect the work or opinions of the NBC Miami editorial staff. Click here to learn more about Guardio.

Anyone can get scammed online. In an increasingly digital world, cybercriminals continue to capitalize on growing opportunities to steal data and money, and generally take advantage of everyday people and businesses. Online scams have evolved quite a bit from the days of the Nigerian prince schemes—but their goal remains the same: steal sensitive information, credit card details, and account numbers.

Though the scope of digital threats is vast, there are simple steps we can all take to protect ourselves and our online personas. Here are some facts that will help you understand the current state of cybersecurity and learn about some simple actions that will help you stay safe.

Cybercrime is a dangerous (and profitable) business

As upsetting as it sounds, cybercrime is a very profitable business. A cyberattack can not only severely impact an organization’s security system or network, but it can also make them lose valuable information, or they might even have to pay if a hacker steals data. In fact, according to an IBM report, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, a 15 percent increase over three years.

Attacks are on the rise

Unfortunately, many cybercriminals have noticed that these practices can be profitable. This has fueled an unprecedented rise. In fact, cybercrime reports grew by a staggering 300% between 2010 and 2020, and $8.8 billion were lost to scams in 2022—that’s 2.6 billion more reports than the previous year!

More than 1 billion malware programs exist

There is more malicious software than ever before. With more than a billion malware programs out there and more than half a million new pieces detected every day—you need to be protected. Using a reputable browser security software like Guardio will help you stay protected. This extension serves as your digital guardian, blocking harmful sites and phishing attacks directed at your computer. It's a straightforward yet powerful way to reinforce your online presence, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable browsing experience.

Over 60 percent of Americans use the same password for more than one account

And even 13 percent use the same password for all their online accounts. Though easier to remember, this practice puts users in an extremely vulnerable position. To protect yourself and your data, you can do two easy things: use longer passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. With MFA enabled, just the password is not enough to log into an account. The added layer of security helps thwart most credential theft attacks.

Phishing continues to be the top type of scam

In 2022, the FBI recorded over 300,000 phishing incidents, which is more than five times the second most common type of cybercrime. Scammers have gotten so good at impersonating major companies that it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. Favoring an urgent tone and including harmful links or malware, they can easily install malicious software on your computer once you click on their links.

Gen Z falls for more scams than previous generations

Growing up with the internet doesn’t make them invulnerable to becoming the victim of scammers and hackers. A recent Deloitte survey shows that Gen Z Americans were three times more likely to get caught up in an online scam than boomers were (16 percent and 5 percent, respectively). Compared to boomers, Gen Z was also twice as likely to have a social media account hacked. Using a simple browser extension that warns you about dangerous sites, data leaks, and malicious extensions, like Guardio, will keep you safe.

If you are looking for professional help protecting your digital information, look no further than Guardio. As a Google-verified and easy-to-install browser extension, Guardio has been trusted by over 1,500,000 Americans and proactively blocks threats before they cause harm. Click here to learn more about how Guardio can safeguard your digital world.