Streaming services increasingly targeted by Cybercriminals

Phishing URLs focusing on Netflix clients expanded by north of 640%

Netflix, YouTube, or Play Suisse. caution is advised because cybercriminals are taking advantage of our new habits.

In 2020 we have spent a lot of time at home and on the internet. Not only online shops, streaming services, and providers of online games were pleased, but also hackers. Cybercriminals take advantage of our new habits. According to KuppingerCole – an international analyst firm – the volume of global cyberattacks increased by around 240 percent during the pandemic. Streaming services in particular are being targeted. Phishing URLs focusing on Netflix clients expanded by more than 640% contrasted with 2019, while those focusing on YouTube expanded by north of 3,000 percent.

Converging of private and expert life

What is bad for private individuals can be life-threatening for companies. As indicated by a review by HP, 70% of office laborers utilize the organization’s PC for private exercises.

For example:

  • Opening individual email connections or site pages: 55%
  • Online shopping/web browsing: 52%
  • Visit personal social media pages: 45%
  • Watching online streaming services: 36%
  • Play games: 27%

Also read our article about “Smishing”: How to protect yourself from the new SMS scam

Hollywood star warns of hacker attacks

This is fodder for hackers. In this way, they can enter companies via the “home office” back door. Because decentralized employees are no longer adequately protected by the company firewall. Therefore, the protection of end devices outside of the company network is all the more important. In the most recent HP Wolf Security video, Hollywood entertainer Christian Slater shows with a wink what can occur in the organization assuming an off-base connection is tapped on the PC at home.

Six hints for greater online protection at home

cybercriminals
Protected

People are often the weakest link in cyber defense. That is the reason there are straightforward however powerful principles of direct to safeguard yourself from programmers.

Six tips from Stefan Dydak, the security expert at HP:

  • Install a firewall, an antivirus program, and the latest updates on all your devices (router, PC, smartphone, printer, etc.).
  • Separate personal and work use of devices.
  • Keep your home Internet of Things devices (Alexa, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, etc.) on a guest network and your corporate devices on your home network. Make sure both WIFI and router are protected with a strong password.
  • Lock your computer screen (Win+L hotkey) when you leave it, cover your camera when not in use, and configure all your devices so that only the functionality you need (e.g. Bluetooth) is activated.
  • Use multi-factor authentication provided by your employer. This should involve special software and/or physical tokens.
  • If you connect to your company network, use VPN access.

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