7 Security Myths That Can Make Aussies Laugh… Or Cry

5 Mins Read

PUREVPNOnline Security7 Security Myths That Can Make Aussies Laugh… Or Cry

Most people are least aware when it comes to the subject of cyber security. While combating cyber security threats, Aussies mostly depend on their own intuition, instead of researching on the issue and taking the required necessary steps.

Debunking these cyber security myths is necessary if Aussies want to eliminate cyber security threats and reach the utopia where there are 100% safe on the internet.

Since different people believe in different cyber security myths depending on their cultures, regions, and the industry they work in, it’s almost impossible to write down all of them in a single blog post.

However, I’ve done some security and risk analysis and picked out some essential internet security myths which can be incredibly dangerous, if not properly analyzed and debunked. These myths are as follows:

#1: All Hackers dress in black and work in dark basements

What hackers look like

Though we think of hackers as people working late at night, dressed in black, smoking cigarettes in their basement, this, however, is not usually the case. Hackers work and interact with others just like normal people. They wake up early, go to cafes, live a normal life, and some don’t even smoke!

However, these habits make them all the more dangerous, since it is almost impossible to differentiate them from other people. You never know when a hacker is sitting on a table next to you in a local café.

He may even be trying to hack into your device, connected to the hotel’s public Wi-Fi, without you even noticing it.

#2: Hacking is like what they show in movies

hacking in movies

Like I’ve stated above, hackers are completely different as human beings then what we perceive them to be. They’re usually not obese chain smokers, suffering from short-sightedness, like we seem them in movies.

Similarly, hacking itself is completely different then what we perceive it to be. Hackers do not require huge main-frame computers or other similar gadgets to hack into a device. An ordinary laptop is usually enough to create and spread malware codes to other people’s devices.

# 3: Only important and rich people are targeted by cyber criminals

celebrity hack

One of the most naïve myths which exist today is that hackers only target the famous and the rich. This is absolutely wrong. The only reason why you don’t often hear common people getting hacked is that they don’t get the necessary coverage the way rich people do.

In fact, hackers find it easier to target common people since they are the most vulnerable when compared to the rich and famous. They can easily get a buck out of their efforts and won’t be traced and hunted the way they would be if they attack the important and the rich.

# 4: Your Social Networking Profiles are completely safe and private

Social media is not safe

You may be under the impression that your social networking profiles are safe and private. This, however, isn’t usually the case.

First of all, even if you’ve updated your privacy settings, disallowing strangers from viewing your posts, your friends can still see them, download them, and share them with people who are strangers to you.

Even those who follow you or the ones you’ve added as friends may not be trusted acquaintances and may harm you whenever they find a chance.

In this case, it is necessary to choose whatever you post carefully, and also check the backgrounds of people who you add on your social networking profiles.

#5: There’s no important data on the machine, so there’s no need to protect it

your machines are not safe

There are many people who refrain from installing anti-virus and other online protection software because of fear that it would slow down their computers. They also waves off all questions regarding cyber security, thinking that since they do not store any important data on their machine, so these questions are not relevant to them.

They have never been so wrong!

Even if users do not store any important information on their device, they may still use it for other important stuff, like managing their social networking profiles, or even basic stuff like searching for their favorite dress on the internet.

This metadata is important to more than one entities, which may include companies wishing to know about your shopping habits, and terrorist organizations that may use it for their evil objectives. Protecting this information is essential in any case.

# 6: If the Wi-Fi Hotspot has a password, this means that it is secure

Wifi hotspot with a password is not secure

There are many people who, while connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, think that it is safe since it has a password. They are wrong!

A Wi-Fi network is only safe if no one else has access to it. There is no use of having a password if others have it too. Once they have access to a network, they can easily infiltrate it and monitor or hack all kinds of online communications.

Even the best Wi-Fi security settings today lack the necessary internet security protocols to protect you. So, the next question that comes to mind is: how to hide yourself on Wi-Fi networks?

It is necessary to have PureVPN in this case, since it encrypts and hides your online communications, and makes it impossible for snoopers to monitor it, even if they have completely hacked the Wi-Fi hotspot.

# 7: Internet Security is expensive

Internet security expensive

There are many who believe that enhancing online security is way too expensive, and that it is only worthwhile for large companies and organizations to afford.

This is especially not true considering that most of your internet security can easily be enhanced once you update your privacy settings on social networking profiles.

Protecting your devices is also not that difficult. You only need to install a reliable and updated version of an anti-virus and firewall software on your PC. Furthermore, you can subscribe to PureVPN, which secures all of your devices, including Smartphones, PC, and router from all kinds of online threats and malware.

You can learn more regarding online security situation in Australia from here. 

To sum it up…

Security myths continue to exist because while finding the answers to our cyber security problems, we do not search for them at the correct platforms.

Education starts by rejecting all the false information which we believe is real. It demands a leap of consciousness on why we need to stay up to date with the latest threats and keep on educating ourselves.

author

Sheheryar Khan

date

November 24, 2022

time

1 year ago

Sheheryar Ahmed Khan is a privacy enthusiast, currently affiliated with PureVPN. His reporting covers subjects related to online privacy, anonymity, and security. Also a believer in online freedom, Sheheryar likes to spend his free time streaming football matches and TV shows online.

Have Your Say!!

Join 3 million+ users to embrace internet freedom

Signup for PureVPN to get complete online security and privacy with a hidden IP address and encrypted internet traffic.