Digital services and services sometimes carry with them not only convenience, but also certain risks. They have so quickly burst into our daily lives that most ordinary citizens (non-IT people) have a hard time imagining the pitfalls lurking under the seemingly smooth surface of digital technology and do not know how to avoid potential problems associated with them. I’ll try to look at the main ones piece by piece and give some useful tips
Security of Personal Data
Without even knowing it, almost every user leaves a huge number of so-called “digital footprints” on the Internet, which can be used by fraudsters for criminal purposes. In order not to become a victim of fraudsters, you must clearly understand that everything that gets into the network, stays there forever, and can be used to your detriment.
Therefore, don’t leave information online or anywhere else that clearly or indirectly carries the possibility of it being used against you. Be “incognito” if possible.
What you don’t want to put on the Internet or anywhere else without a clear need and confidence that your personal information will not be stolen and/or disclosed to third parties (which is impossible to be 100% sure of):
- Your Full Name. If possible, use pseudonyms or fictitious names, it will help you to maintain anonymity.
- Date and place of birth. Best and completely skip this point and do not specify anything, but if it is not possible – think up any favorite date and country.
- Do not provide passport details and information about your place of residence, studies, recreation, work, data about your location.
- Do not publish your photos in full-face and profile, suitable for passport and other documents. (you can, if you have a hat and dark glasses – these will not work for a passport).
- Do not leave a personal phone number. Most online resources require you to verify your phone number to complete registration. We do not recommend this because your phone number contains a lot of information about you. Use a fake phone number for verification the social networks, messenger, marketplaces, it will help you stay incognito.
The web is full of services that provide virtual SMS numbers. In almost everyone, you can get a number with a code of any country for a short time.
We recommend a proven company sms-man.com for virtual numbers. This site has been working for more than a year and has proved itself as a reliable and completely anonymous SMS verification service. The site offers virtual numbers from 250 different countries in over 1000 different services.
What can Happen if Your Personal Data is Disclosed
A scammer having at least some of this data (and even without it) can introduce himself as an employee of law enforcement agencies and use methods of “social engineering” to influence your psyche, and then force you to perform actions under his bidding (for example, to transfer money to a specified account, or name confidential data). This is the main method used by phone scammers.
Having your photo, phone number, signature example and passport data at their fingertips they can theoretically use them to apply for a microloan or make a false passport in order to hide behind it and throw all the blame on you.
If they have a copy of your passport or a scan of it, they can buy another SIM-card in your name, and then use the number registered in your name to commit fraud.
Knowing where you live and where you are at the moment, as well as that you have material values, attackers can take advantage of your absence and commit a robbery.
Do not ignore these important points and keep your personal data safe. We wish you safety online and in normal life! Hopefully, our tips based on real life experiences will help with this.
