In the global pandemic, millions of people are staying at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and protect their loved ones. Some of the restrictions have been eased, but people aren’t willing to get out and about. Being told that everything is fine isn’t tempting enough to go outdoors. Netflix and Zoom are helping the self-quarantined world when it comes to entertainment and work. Their technical infrastructure has been able to handle the surge and great efforts are made to ensure that the sudden shift in traffic patterns doesn’t take a toll on the infrastructure.
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The coronavirus outbreak has led to a considerable shift in the tactics employed by cyber criminals. To be more precise, many are now focusing their attention on regular individuals, in particular those looking for ways to stay entertained online or working from home. The next time you stream a movie or log into a video meeting, be careful. Malicious actors are turning to your favorite sites to collect user data and hack accounts. They resort to elaborate methods to get past the systems that identify phishing attacks and try to convince users to disclose information that provides them access to the accounts in question.
Simple steps to keep your Netflix and Zoom account secure
Even if you have security software, it’s a good idea to go the extra mile to avoid becoming a victim of cyber criminals. These days, nobody is safe. In what follows, we’ll present our recommendations for staying safe online during the coronavirus pandemic.
Steer away from search results and links
To access Netflix or Zoom, you type the name of the service in the search box on Google (or whatever search engine you’re currently using) and click on the result. This is a big mistake because scammers have realized they can lure innocent victims and convince them to click on a link to their website, which appears higher in the SERPs. Rather than searching for Netflix or Zoom in the browser, you should type the official addresses directly into the browser. This way, you have a guarantee that you’re on the genuine sites. If the URL looks suspicious, you’re probably in the wrong place.
If you get an unsolicited email, don’t send personal information
Don’t fall for any email, even if it seems legit. If you’ve been recently asked to update your payment information, know that it’s a scam. Email is frequently used to deliver malicious material and obtain personal information. Cyber criminals launch countless phishing attacks and, surprisingly, they’re often successful. It’s recommended to ignore unsolicited emails requesting sensitive information. If you believe that the email was sent by someone from Netflix or Zoom, get in touch with a representative and clarify the issue.
Use a strong, unique password
If you’re like everyone else, you deploy the same password for multiple accounts. It’s a common practice, but not a smart one. Someone is likely to guess that password and get hold of your personal information. Don’t use the same password for Netflix and Zoom. What you need is a strong, unique password for every account. Cyber-attacks take place when you expect them the least, so be proactive. You can install a password manager that will prevent keyloggers from accessing your credentials. No one will be able to monitor your keystrokes.
Use a VPN with Netflix and Zoom no matter what network you’re using
Cyber criminals have launched new scams aimed at people who use Netflix or Zoom. If you don’t want to be the next victim, it’s paramount to use a VPN. A VPN empowers online users by protecting their Wi-Fi connections. The information is sent to the VPN server, it’s encrypted, and sent to the online destination. If the information stolen is unreadable, it becomes worthless. It won’t matter to Netflix or Zoom if you connect via your own server or using a different one on a VPN. You’ll enjoy a safe online experience because what you’re sending over the Internet can’t be intercepted.
When deciding on a VPN provider, it’s necessary to take into account the VPN protocol offered. This is a set of processes and instructions that the VPN provider counts on to provide users a stable, secure connection. NordLynx, for instance, was developed around the WireGuard VPN protocol, which uses stellar cryptography. If you want to learn more about NordLynx, you must know that it can be used for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can easily set up the protocol on any device. You can use any protocol you want, but it’s our responsibility to advise you on what might work best.
The bottom line is that using a VPN when streaming movies and show or video conferencing keeps you more secure. All your Internet traffic is rerouted through the provider’s servers. Even if a malicious actor manages to access any of the information exchanged, there’s no reason to worry because it’s unintelligible. A company can easily recover from a cyber-attack, but that’s not the case for regular individuals. A cyber criminal doesn’t have to drain your bank account to do irreparable damage. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Take precautions when accessing the Internet and don’t do anything you’ll regret later.
(Syndicated press content is neither written, edited or endorsed by ED Times)
