As a service provider or marketer, the customer’s trust must be protected by all the possible means available so the customer can build more confidence in products or services. 

There are many ways to enhance customer trust in this digital space, where being transparent and honest is a key player. Customers care about the security of a product or service, and they won’t want their data to be exposed or used for malicious reasons when using a product or service. 

Customers want total control and access to a product or service they have acquired without a third party disrupting their usage of the product or service. All these boil down to proper security and data protection for the customers. One of the successful ways to protect customer’s trust has been through identity verification. 

Identity verification has built a lot of customer trust, as customers are confident that their product or data is safe to keep. Research carried out by Javelin Strategy and research proves that account takeover fraud losses in the financial institutions that use document verification technologies have been reduced by 72%, which has increased the protection of valuable assets for their customers and built customer trust. 

What an unsung hero identity verification has been in this digital year. The rise of generative AIs and other AIs has made it tough to protect customer’s trust as these AIs break through unsophisticated identity verification techniques. 

The need for more sophisticated identity techniques is required to beat the threats of deepfake. Deepfakes are one of the fastest methods of identity theft, as attackers only need minute details to gather all the information necessary to validate their victim’s identity. 

This underscores the importance for companies to heavily invest in security technologies and consistently update their tech infrastructure to avoid falling victim to such attacks and ending up breaking their customer’s trust. 

How can a customer’s trust be strengthened through identity verification?

Use of multiple layers of authentication

Multi-factor authentication, like that of 2FA, has proven to be a good protection against hack breaches as it goes beyond just passwords and involves code sent to phones via SMS, email, or biometric scans (fingerprint scans or facial recognition). 

Strengthening them more will project customers and reduce attacks by adding more layers to the authentications. Customers who are aware of how much security is available to protect their data and assets can rest assured that there is “no room for hacks or breaches” and that their accounts can only be opened by them.  

Use of sophisticated biometric verification

Using only fingerprints isn’t enough, as hackers have developed methods of stealing users’ fingerprints. The addition of facial recognition that will combine the matching of fingerprints with detailed facial features like hair color, iris scans and color, nose and ear size, eyebrow blink time intervals, and so on to march and unlock the user’s asset will make it possible to protect users from hackers attacks on their assets. 

Customers who are aware of how much security is available to protect their data and assets can rest assured that there is “no room for hacks or breaches” and that their accounts can only be opened by them.  

Use of sophisticated document identity verifications

This involves verifying identity documents, which are mostly government-issued IDs like passports, driver’s licenses, utility bills, and national identification cards, amongst others. 

Hackers have progressed to making fake documents for identity theft to claim customers’ assets, and these have ruined a lot of customer’s trust in a lot of organizations. Verification of these documents can be done manually by trained personnel to identify the authenticity of the documents, but using an automated method has proven to be more convenient, faster, and error-free. 

Automated document identity verification service providers use advanced biometric and face recognition algorithms to ensure that the faces analyzed are real and prevent the use of pictures of faces, 3D masks, and other fakes or renderings in the identity verification process. 

Customers who are aware of how much security is available to protect their data and assets can rest assured that there is “no room for hacks, breaches, or identity theft” and that their accounts can only be opened by them.  

As much as security is being upgraded, convenience has to be considered too. If the security measures are upscaled but the convenience of users isn’t taken into consideration, then it makes users uninterested in the long and stressful process. 

The processes need to be streamlined to the user’s convenience with a very good user interface that has been researched to have an optimized user experience while using the product or service and getting their assets or data secured. 

Adopting transparency will help build confidence and trust in customers when it comes to security measures. Letting them know how important their asset or data is and how important it is to protect it from hackers and breaches through multiple layers of security systems will help ease the burden on users and make the top security level attainable. 

The use of an automated security identity verification system will help bypass long waiting hours and stressful processes by streamlining long processes into hassle-free processes. 

Offering multiple choices of protection methods will also give users and customers a variety of choices of how they can assess their assets or data at their convenience while keeping their security at the top level. 

Conclusion

Staying ahead of threats is paramount to keeping customers’ assets or data safe with the consistent updating of security measures and counter-checking for malware attacks on the system. Keeping users educated on regulatory compliance will also play a huge role in the rise of customer trust. 

The post Enhancing customer trust through secure identity verification techniques appeared first on The WiredShopper.

But what if there are no longer any updates to rely on? Unfortunately, more often than not, smartphones that are older than two years may stop receiving support and security patches from manufacturers.

By using these phones, you could be leaving yourself open to cyberattacks from criminals, who are more than capable of infiltrating older, forgotten technology.

In this article, you will learn how vulnerable your old smartphone can be. There’ll also be simple but effective advice to help you decide whether to ditch your old phone and upgrade!

The dangers of using an old phone

Sadly, smartphones are not built to last indefinitely, and manufacturers will focus on developing and promoting new technology. By continuing to use older technology, you could be leaving yourself ripe for a cyberattack.

Below are five reasons why an old smartphone could be a liability:

1. Outdated software against malware

Outdated software is one of the most significant risks of using an old phone. This is because your phone is not receiving information to protect itself from modern threats like malware.

What is malware? It’s any program, file, or code designed to harm a system. Malware can infect your phone through various means, including downloads, adverts, fake apps, and visiting malicious websites.

Through malware, hackers can steal personal information, spam your phone with unwanted apps and adverts, and render it unusable until you pay a fee. Ordinarily, modern phones would receive information to safeguard you and prevent infection. But old phones simply cannot keep up. 

So, how old is an old phone? While each model varies, experts have calculated the average lifespan of a model with a manufacturer’s expected support. These include:

• iPhone: 4 to 8 years
• Samsung: 3 to 6 years
• Google Pixel: 3 to 5 years
• Huawei: 2 to 4 years

These figures are just estimates, with some makes and models receiving longer or shorter support. But generally, the two or three-year mark is the sweet spot for upgrading your phone to ensure it is futureproof.

2. Lack of encryption options

Encryption is one of the best defenses against cybercrime, as it encodes your data, making it difficult for hackers to understand the information you enter on your phone. Encryption adds another layer of protection if you’re entering sensitive information such as credit card numbers, addresses, or personal information.

Thankfully, encryption software is often bundled with modern phones, allowing you to password-protect files and login information straight out of the box. Unfortunately, this kind of technology may be missing on older phones, making any information or files susceptible to hacking.

3. Weaker password protection

Passwords are the backbone of cybersecurity, and it’s no surprise that the stronger you make them, the more secure your phone becomes. However, with the rise in AI technologies, hackers are becoming more adept at breaking PINs.

Modern smartphones have various features that can help heighten your security and protect you against these emerging technologies. For example, biometric authentication verifies your identity by using a combination of your fingerprint, voice, eye, or facial features to grant you access. It can protect your phone from cyber threats and theft, as the criminal cannot verify their identity.

Most modern phones will have one or more biometric password options. Unfortunately, older models will be stuck using traditional 4-digit PINs that are becoming an easy task for hackers to crack.

4. Unsecured Wi-Fi networks

Another big concern over your old phone is when you’re connecting to the internet, especially with public Wi-Fi networks. Evil twin attacks, for example, trick users into connecting to fake Wi-Fi networks that steal personal data and log online activity.

These fake Wi-Fi networks are often set up in places where public Wi-Fi is offered, such as cafes, libraries, and colleges. While modern smartphones can detect and flag suspicious connections and prevent you from falling for the trap, older phones may not.

5. Vulnerable apps

As older phones don’t receive updates, many compatibility issues can arise from mobile apps, including missing useful features, poorer performance, and potential cyberattacks. Hackers often try to exploit known app weaknesses and target older phones that may not have downloaded recently updated protections. If your older phone cannot update applications, you should not use them. Any information you enter into them, or permissions you allow, could be intercepted by hackers.

The post Smartphone Security: Why Mobile Phones Over Two Years Old Could Be a Risk appeared first on The WiredShopper.

Your passwords are like the lock on your front door. Would you feel safe if the lock was flimsy and easily picked? Just as you prioritize the security of your home, it’s crucial to do the same for your online presence. Weak passwords are like leaving your front door unlocked. They invite nothing but trouble.

What Happens if Your Passwords Are Stolen?

The nightmare begins with a stolen password. Even a small breach can open floodgates. There, it snowballs and leads to a cascade of potentially devastating events. 

When a password falls into the wrong hands, it’s not just about losing access to an account; it’s about opening up every aspect of your digital life to risk. From personal emails to social media profiles, the consequences of a compromised password are far-reaching. It can be deeply unsettling, too. 

Let’s take a closer look at what can happen when your digital keys end up in the hands of a cybercriminal:

• Loss of personal and financial information: If someone gets their hands on your password, they can access your accounts easily. This could lead to very unpleasant results like identity theft, financial loss, or unauthorized purchases.
• Compromised email and social media: A hacked email can mean hackers can reset your other account passwords connected to that email. Once your email is compromised, getting your email and accounts back can be quite a hustle.
• Risk to personal safety: If your location or contact information is leaked through a stolen password, it could pose a physical safety risk. 
• Emotional distress: The violation of having your personal space invaded can be deeply upsetting. This leads to emotional distress, stress, and anxiety.

This list can be extended depending on the circumstances, yet it’s safe to say that there is hardly a positive outcome if your passwords are exposed to malicious actors. 

The Common Mistakes in Password Creation

Now that you know the consequences of stolen passwords, you might wonder how secure your passwords are. It all seems quite straightforward. Yet, many of us often fall into traps of convenience. The truth is that the way we create passwords often leaves us vulnerable to attacks and unfeasible situations, as mentioned above. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when creating passwords:

• Using common words and phrases: Passwords like ‘password123’ or ‘admin’ are incredibly easy to guess. You don’t want hackers to brute-force your passwords or, in other words, easily crack by guessing them. 
• Personal information: Birthdays, anniversaries, or your pet’s name can be easily found by snoopers. Often, we don’t notice how much personal information we share online. A careful hacker can effortlessly reach such information and guess your passwords.
• Reusing passwords: Using the same password across multiple sites means if one is breached, others are at risk too. Believe it or not, hackers know this bad habit very well, and they benefit from it.
• Keeping it short and simple: Short passwords without a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols are a hacker’s dream. The reason is simple —these passwords are easy to force.

Remember, many common practices that we think are safe, or at least harmless, can actually significantly weaken our digital security. Recognizing these pitfalls is the first step towards stronger, more secure passwords.

How Can Password Managers Help?

Since one of the rules for decent password hygiene is to have different strong passwords for every account, the chances that you memorize all of them are —low. Reliable password managers like NordPass are handy tools that help you to keep track of all your passwords. They store your login information for various websites and help you log in automatically. 

These tools create complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts if you lack the creativity to do so. They’re encrypted, meaning they keep your information safe and hidden from prying eyes, too.

Moreover, with a password manager, you only need to remember one strong password that unlocks your password manager. They often come with added features like alerting you to data breaches or when it’s time to update a password, taking the guesswork and stress out of staying secure online.

Conclusion

In an online world full of risks and threats, taking password security seriously is not just a recommendation but a necessity. You can significantly enhance your digital security by understanding the risks of weak passwords, avoiding common pitfalls in creating them, and considering tools like password managers. Remember, in the digital age, your password is more than just a key – it’s a guardian of your personal and digital well-being.

The post Are Your Passwords Putting You at Risk? appeared first on The WiredShopper.

Whether you’re an individual or a business, you must arm yourself with the knowledge and solutions to recognize and dodge traps laid by cybercriminals in emails or messages to get access to your financial assets, online identity, and sensitive data. 

In this article, you’ll learn how phishing attacks work, why cybercriminals use them, and ways to avoid getting hooked. 

What Is the Simple Definition of Phishing?

Phishing is a popular fraudulent technique cybercriminals use to deceive individuals and businesses into disclosing sensitive information, including (but not limited to):

• Names;
• Contact information;
• Banking account details
• Social media account credentials;
• Social security number, etc.

These criminals manipulate unsuspecting individuals by disguising themselves as people or entities they know and trust, such as:

• Friends;
• Coworkers;
• Family members;
• Work or school;
• Online accounts and services;
• Subscribed businesses, etc. 

By getting the information they need, they can achieve their malicious objectives, which typically include:

• Financial gain;
• Sabotage;
• Extortion;
• Identity theft, etc.

What Is an Example of Phishing?

Most phishing attacks and campaigns are designed to target and steal users’ banking and credit card information. Hence, cybercriminals pretend to be banks and credit unions to send account closure notifications, fake promotions, etc.

Suppose you check your inbox and receive a notification email from your bank informing you of a security concern with your account. The email might require you to respond immediately by clicking on a link to input and verify your credentials. 

The link will take you to a site identical to our bank’s official login page. Once you enter your username and password, you will unknowingly handle your account details to cybercriminals. 

With access to your banking details, they can carry out unauthorized transactions and steal your money. They can also use your identity and banking details to lure others into different traps without leaving any trace behind and getting you in even more serious trouble. 

Is Phishing Attack a Crime?

Phishing is among the most dangerous social engineering attacks in the cybersecurity industry. Cybercriminals use this technique to deceive and defraud victims. Hence, the practice has several legal consequences. Even misdemeanor convictions can lead to a year in jail or more, depending on the laws and jurisdictions. 

Other punishments include:

• Fines;
• Probation;
• Civil lawsuits and their consequent damages;
• Loss of professional licenses and certifications;
• Forfeiture of digital and physical assets;
• Community service, etc. 

Why Do Hackers Use Phishing Emails?

According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, 65% of cybercriminals use phishing emails as their primary attack vector. Phishing emails are simple to create and send, especially with popular AI tools like ChatGPT that can simplify and accelerate the process. 

More importantly, sending phishing emails is a simple way to exploit human vulnerabilities, including their inherent trust in the internet. 

Below are other technical and anthropogenic reasons phishing emails are wildly popular:

1. Low Skill Requirements & Execution Costs

Compared to brute-force attacks, SQL injection, and other sophisticated cyberattacks, phishing attacks are much easier to execute. Cybercriminals of all levels can create genuine emails to deceive recipients into sending their personal information, even without malicious links to fake sites. 

Phishing is far less expensive than sophisticated cyberattacks, making it a viable option for new or inexperienced cyber criminals. 

2. Human Vulnerabilities

As a human, you have certain traits that make you highly susceptible to phishing attacks, such as curiosity, fear, and the desire for rewards. Cybercriminals exploit these vulnerabilities to drive actions, prompting you to succumb to their CTAs. 

For instance, they can email you that your banking account is in danger, creating a sense of urgency and fear. By exploiting your emotions, they can trick you into sharing your divulging sensitive information or following their instructions. 

What Is the Most Common Type of Phishing?

Common phishing methods include:

• Smishing (SMS Phishing);
• Vishing (fake phone calls);
• Hyperlink manipulation;
• Malvertising (fake advertisements);
• Angler phishing (posing as CSR on social media platforms and forums);
• Pharming (DNS settings tampering), etc.

Although these are all frequently employed phishing techniques, email phishing remains the most popular technique in the industry. 

Anyone can send phishing emails regardless of their skills and experience. 

They can easily send malicious links, malware, and other attachments with a few clicks and reach a wide audience quickly, increasing their success chances. Email lists are also available online for free or purchase.

How Can Phishing Be Prevented?

Today, phishing poses a serious threat to individuals and businesses. Therefore, you must learn to prevent phishing attacks to protect your sensitive data and financial assets. 

Below are a few proactive measures, vigilant practices, and useful solutions you can adopt to avoid falling victim to phishing emails and other social engineering attacks:

1. Cybersecurity Training

If you run a business, you must conduct cybersecurity training sessions to share awareness and educate employees about common phishing practices and red flags. You can also share tips to recognize and handle suspicious emails. 

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication is a popular security measure that adds multiple protection layers to your accounts and systems. The purpose of MFA is to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access even if they manage to steal your information through phishing. 

Popular MFA methods include:

• Fingerprint;
• Location-based verification;
• Device-based verification (IP, browser, etc.);
• One-time passwords (OTPs).

3. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A virtual private network or VPN is a security solution or software that encrypts your IP address and internet traffic before routing it to a secure third-party server. The core purpose of this encrypted network is to ensure and maintain anonymity and data privacy. 

Hence, connecting to a VPN makes it nearly impossible for cybercriminals to intercept sensitive information you share on websites and emails. However, you shouldn’t opt for a VPN free of cost. Instead, consider choosing a paid one for:

• Enhanced security;
• More servers and server locations;
• Stronger encryption;
• No data logging, etc.

4. Use Advanced Email Filters Or Spam Detection Solutions

Since phishing emails look like legitimate messages, you can easily be tricked by cybercriminals and reveal sensitive information or click on fake links. 

You can automate phishing email identification and removal by opting for an email filter or spam detection software. These solutions check everything, from the sender’s email to suspicious attachments and AI-generated content. 

Conclusion

With cybersecurity becoming a global concern, you must take extra caution, especially when using digital products and solutions. 

Hopefully, our simple guide to phishing attacks can help you avoid getting hooked by cybercriminals and protect your devices, network, and personal information. 

Related article: The Dangers of Phishing Scams and How to Avoid Them

The post Understanding Phishing Attacks and How to Prevent Them in 2023 appeared first on The WiredShopper.

Airtime fairness is one of the amazing upgrades introduced that make users get better results from their networks. That’s what this article will be focusing on. We’re sharing the benefits of using airtime fairness, which will compel you to get it for your network.

But before that, you need to understand that airtime fairness can be enabled from your Wi-Fi router’s settings. However, your internet provider may not make those settings visible since the settings have already been set to support your internet plan. For this to occur, you need someone reliable so that you can expect their airtime fairness management to provide the necessary performance. We recommend Kinetic internet since it offers the best internet plans that accommodate all network requirements effectively. You can check out Kinetic internet to choose one for yourself and rest easy.

Now that it’s settled, let’s look at the benefits that airtime fairness offers:

Distributes Bandwidth Evenly

One of the many perks of using airtime fairness is that it allows one to manage bandwidths by distributing them evenly. In common cases, processes or tasks that require greater bandwidths or speed overcome the entire network.

This creates a deadlock for the remaining connected devices since they have to wait for the network’s resources to be available to them. However, this solution is mitigated when one uses airtime fairness.

Airtime fairness evenly distributes the bandwidth so that the connected devices don’t face starvation. When airtime fairness is enabled, it assesses the tasks with low network usage time. It then allows them to run, ultimately reaching completion and then exiting the queue.

Meanwhile, the tasks with higher bandwidth and network usage time then run smoothly. In other words, it optimizes the way processes are handled.

Powerful Devices Achieve Complete Performance

As highlighted earlier, airtime fairness ensures that processes get evenly distributed bandwidth, making the process queue run faster. However, it also enables powerful devices to reach their full potential in terms of processing since the network resources are completely available to them.

It’s one of the reasons why you should be using airtime fairness for intensive tasks such as gaming, database administration, etc. It moves minimal tasks out of the queue by allotting them the slot earlier, leaving more space for extensive tasks.

In addition, a custom airtime fairness rule will also set your extensive tasks on a priority, always creating more room for their processing.

Accommodates Devices in Large Spaces

One of the most commonly faced issues with large space networks is that users that are at a greater distance face starvation due to the unavailability of the resources. However, with airtime fairness, the users get access to resources equally.

It helps users with a greater distance from the primary gateway to access the network and work through it. Moreover, it minimizes starvation even when a powerful process or device is operating on the network.

Public Wi-Fi, café shop Wi-Fi, etc. use this approach to provide connected users access to the available internet. Here, it’s important to know that it doesn’t improve the overall speed of the network.

If the speed of the network is slow from the primary internet provider. then every connected device will have the same speed.

Custom Rules Make Processing Fast

We mentioned earlier that you can create custom rules within airtime fairness that will allow you to set a solid performance for some of the extensive tasks. However, it’s only possible when your internet provider allows it since most providers have their own airtime fairness rules set.

But if these rules are available to you, then you can create your customized rules. These rules will act accordingly, saving space and speed on the network for the said tasks. In other words, even with a congested network, you’ll be able to get a good performance.

However, again, you need to make sure that your primary internet connection is solid enough to support this rule. Since you’ll be dividing your network, you should have ample resources left to entertain other devices and users connecting to the network.

Helps with Legacy Devices

Legacy devices or devices that are old often lack the technical capability to offer better performance. A common example is the latest internet routers that are able to offer tri-band bandwidth whereas legacy routers offer only one band.

There are times when you’re unable to upgrade the devices due to current network functionality. In such cases, airtime fairness works best since it helps legacy devices to work better. It allocates the network resources in a manner that they don’t overtake the entire network yet complete their process.

In other words, it creates a queue of processes with a fixed time to use the network so that all processes operate without facing starvation.

Closing Thoughts

Airtime fairness brings several benefits and allows network administrators to benefit from it in terms of the network’s performance. Even though it carries some downsides (compatibility issues, performance issues), still, it gives a solid foundation on which your network can perform better.

The post Reasons Why You Need To Airtime Fairness for Your Network’s Performance appeared first on The WiredShopper.