Data breaches were no stranger to 2016, and we don’t foresee them steering clear of 2017 either. Committing acts of fraud is no longer a hobby for some criminals; it’s a way of life. In fact, various hacking groups have started offering incentives, such as points, prizes or money, to those who compromise the most valuable data or hold information ransom.
Although we’re currently seeing an increase in Ransomware and DDoS attacks, Experian predicts the following trends to rise to the top in 2017:
- Aftershocks of password breaches
- Escalating cyber conflicts between countries
- New, sophisticated attacks on healthcare organizations
- Payment-based attacks
- International data breaches
Although there is no magic solution for completely avoiding fraud, there are a few things cardholders can do to help keep their information safe:
- Be mindful of what you post on social media, and ensure your social media security settings are set appropriately.
- Review financial account information and activity regularly.
- Be leery of emails originating from unrecognized senders – especially if the email asks for personal or financial information. In addition, don’t click on links, download files or open attachments in emails from unknown senders.
- Protect your computer with firewalls, spam filters and anti-virus or anti-spyware software.
