In this week’s issue of HackerReport, the main theme is online scams and securing your online accounts.

What’s Inside

1. Gen Z Falls for Online Scams More Than the Boomers

2. Georgia Ranks #1 in Identity Theft Cases, California #10

3. Learn How to Secure Your Online Accounts

4. Google Email Account Security Checkup

5. Protecting Kids Online

6. Bye Bye Passwords. FIDO2 To the Rescue!

7. Cybersecurity Word of the Day: Catfish

Cybersecurity News This Week

1. 😿 Gen Z Falls for Online Scams More Than the Boomers…say what?

• Generation Z, born between 1995 and 2012, is more than three times as likely to fall for online scams compared to baby boomers as stated by a 2023 Deloitte report.

• Online scam victims under 20 years old lost an estimated $8.2 million in 2017. In 2022, they lost $210 million.

• Gen Z’s high use of technology more than any other generation is the primary cause for scams.

So sorry Gen Z….

2. 📈 Georgia Ranks #1 in Identity Theft Cases, California #10

• The Federal Trade Commission received over 1 million identity theft reports in 2023.

• In 2023, northeastern states saw a jump in identity theft incidents per capita, such as Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts.

• South Dakota has the least amount of identity theft cases.

If only identity theft was like food…

Cybersecurity Crash Course

3. 🔒Securing Your Online Accounts

Why It's Important: Protecting your online identity is necessary in order to prevent fraud, identity theft, and financial loss.

How Attackers Compromise Users: Attackers use methods like phishing (tricking you into giving away information) via text messaging, email, social apps, and phone calls. They also exploit weak passwords and data breaches to access your accounts.

Basic Measures

1. Use Unique, Strong Passwords: Ensure passwords are at least 15 characters long, combining letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable passwords and do not reuse the same passwords across different accounts.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): adds an extra layer of security by requiring two or more verification methods, such as a password and a code displayed on your phone, before granting access to your account.

3. Monitor Accounts Regularly: Regularly review your account activity for unfamiliar transactions, changes in settings, or unknown logins. If you find unusual activity, change your passwords and report it to the platform's support team immediately.

4. Be Cautious of Suspicious Messages: Don’t click on unknown links or attachments. If you suspect something is off, it probably is—ignore the message or ask a friend or family member for their opinion before opening it.

Actionable Tips: Don’t worry if you can’t remember all these passwords. Just use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords and enable MFA wherever possible.

Security Checkup

4. ✉️ Google Email Account Security

• Use the following Google Security Checkup Tool if you have a google email account.

• If you don’t have a google email account to access your email and online accounts, you should. Google has one of the best security teams in the world and are renown for advancing security for everyone.

When using this tool, it is crucial to:

• Remove any third-party apps that do not look familiar.

• Enable multi-factor authentication.

Parents Section

5. 🧒 Protecting Kids Online

Basic Measures:

• Secure Email Accounts: Ensure all family members use strong, unique passwords and enable MFA.

• Safe Online Practices: Teach children about not sharing personal information online and recognizing suspicious behavior.

• Social Media Safety: Monitor social media activity and privacy settings to prevent unauthorized access.

Resources

• Cyberbullying: Know the signs. Check out the resources at Stomp Out Bullying and the CyberBullying Research Center.

• Social Media Addiction: Studies have shown social media is as addicting as gambling and shopping. Read more about the signs.

• Children’s Books: Looking for new bedtime reading material? The Little Cyber Engineer by Amber DeVilbiss is a great choice.

Advanced Users Section

6.🛡️Bye Bye Passwords. FIDO2 To the Rescue!

• Passwords as a single factor of authentication are simply not sufficient.

• FIDO2  (Fast IDentity Online 2) has emerged as a worthy successor.

• Passkeys are a modern authentication method that similarly rely on public key cryptography in addition to biometrics or PIN codes to authenticate users in a phishing-resistant manner.

Cybersecurity Word of the Day

7. 📖 Catfish

A person who creates a false identity on social media or dating platforms to deceive others. This deception can be for various reasons, such as emotional manipulation, financial gain, or personal entertainment. Victims often form emotional or romantic relationships with the catfish, believing them to be genuine.

Example: "He discovered he was being catfished after realizing the person he was talking to online was using someone else's photos and information."

❤️ Thank you for reading this issue of HackerReport brought to you by ZeroVuln^SM, Your Personal Cybersecurity Team^TM. ❤️

Stay safe online, and in our next issue, learn how to spot and avoid phishing scams, understand why they exploit psychological components, explore security concerns for IoT devices like baby monitors, and get a review of the best password managers to keep your accounts secure.

Helpful Links

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