Cybersecurity in the modern world: what everyone should know

Modern life is increasingly becoming digital. We study and work online, communicate on social media, order food through apps, store important documents in our smartphones, pay bills via mobile banking... The list goes on and on. This way of life has long since ceased to amaze us and has become commonplace.

🔐 Introduction. Why is cybersecurity so important?

At first glance, digitalization is a very positive trend. It makes it possible to speed up routine tasks and expands the horizons of our capabilities (for example, remote work in a foreign company). However, on the other hand, such rapid digitalization opens up a limitless field of opportunities for cybercriminals. We are used to thinking that we do not have any valuable information and that we will not be affected by cyberattacks. In fact, our information is a very valuable and desirable resource.

Cyber fraudsters do not target only the rich or famous. Anyone with a smartphone, email, or Instagram page is at risk. And, unfortunately, it's ordinary users who become the most frequent victims.

This article is highly recommended for everyone who uses the Internet, regardless of age or experience. We will tell you about the most popular types of fraud, how our data can be useful to attackers, and how to protect yourself from hacker attacks.

 

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What is cybercrime and how dangerous is it?

When we hear the term cybercrime, our minds often conjure up images of hackers breaking into the servers of large corporations or government agencies. However, it's important to understand that cybercrime is not just about high-profile attacks on big businesses. In fact, a significant portion of cybercrime is aimed at ordinary people like you. These are everyday fraudulent activities that can cause serious damage to your financial situation and personal life.

What is the purpose of cyber attacks?

The main motive of cybercriminals is money. They are constantly looking for ways to get rich illegally using digital technologies. This can be through direct theft of funds from your bank accounts, ransom demands for locked files, or deception to get you to voluntarily transfer money to them.

However, money is not the only goal of cybercriminals. Personal data is also of great value in their hands. Your name, address, phone number, date of birth, passport details, passwords to various accounts, email address, information about your social connections and preferences - all of this can be used for fraud, identity theft or to sell on the black market to other criminals.

You should realise that in today's digital world, every gadget is a potential target for cybercriminals. Whether you use the internet for work, school, socialising with friends, online shopping or banking, you are creating a digital footprint that can attract the attention of criminals.

What cybercriminals are looking for - and how it could affect you

There is a common myth: "Who needs me? I have nothing of value." This is a very dangerous belief that leads to a cavalier attitude towards cybersecurity. In fact, your personal information is of significant value to criminals, and here are some examples of how they can use it:

• Passport details. Most often, to take out quick online loans or open bank accounts in your name.
• Passwords. To find passwords to other services (people often use the same password everywhere 😬). Further, there are many scenarios of use: stealing money, luring money from your friends, stealing sensitive data for the purpose of further blackmail, etc.
• Access to email. You can update passwords to other services via email. As in the previous case, there can be many scenarios for using your data, depending on the service hacked by the fraudster.
• Social media accounts. Usually, criminals pretend to be you and write to your friends asking them to send money (most often under the pretext of a loved one's illness).
• Bank cards and payment details. The motivation here is quite obvious - to withdraw money or make purchases.
• Documents, photos, videos, backups. Hackers can encrypt your files and demand money to unlock them. Alternatively, attackers may use sensitive photos or videos to further blackmail you.
• Personal information. Criminals can sell your data on the darknet or use it to create deepfake content.

These are just the most common motivations that drive cybercriminals to launch attacks on ordinary people. The list of their goals is much wider, including identity theft, image compromise, influencing the opinions of the general public, and more.

🤔 Are you sure you can identify a cyber fraudster?

Sometimes even experienced users fall into traps. Take this short cybersecurity awareness quiz to find out how well you are protected:Are you sure you can recognise a cyber fraudster?

Pass the test

Common types of cyber threats

Cyberspace is full of dangers that can lurk at every turn. Understanding how cybercriminals operate will help you better recognise threats. Let's take a closer look at the most common types of cyber threats that ordinary users are most likely to be exposed to.

🎣 Phishing 

This is one of the most popular and, unfortunately, most effective types of attacks. This attack is aimed at obtaining confidential data by deceiving and impersonating official representatives of various organisations. The peculiarity of phishing is that the victim shares his or her personal data voluntarily.

 

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The attack works as follows.

The attacker creates a fake message. It can be a message in Viber, Telegram or SMS, but according to statistics, 96% of phishing attacks are carried out via email. Such messages imitate the style and design of a trusted organisation (e.g. a bank, payment system, popular service). They are sent in bulk to potential victims or targeted to specific individuals.

The message contains an urgent request (e.g., to confirm data, update information, pay a bill) or an attractive offer (e.g., to win a prize). A characteristic feature of such messages is elements of pressure or urgency.

So, the user, believing the information in the message, clicks on a link that leads to a fake website that visually copies the real website. There, he enters his personal data (login, password, card number, CVV code, PIN code), which is instantly transmitted to the servers of the attackers.

What do fraudsters get?

Depending on the information you enter, the hacker can obtain your credentials, financial information, personal data, etc. The data obtained is used to access the victim's real accounts, make unauthorised transactions or sell the information to other criminals.

Threat to the user

The most obvious loss is money. Attackers can steal funds from your bank accounts or charge your credit cards. An equally valuable loss is access to your social media accounts or email. This allows the attacker to act on your behalf and lure money from your friends. The third, but no less significant loss is your personal information. Once in the hands of criminals, your personal data can be used for identity theft, blackmail, or sale to other criminals.

🛒🚫 Buying non-existent goods

This is a type of fraud where attackers offer for sale goods that do not actually exist, usually at a very attractive price, to induce the victim to make a quick payment.

How the attack works

Attackers create ads for the sale of goods on popular online platforms, social networks, or create fake online stores. The price of the goods is usually significantly lower than the market price.

After the victim contacts the ‘seller’, the fraudster insists on full or partial prepayment, often refusing to pay by cash on delivery or meet in person. After receiving the money, the ‘seller’ disappears and the goods are never sent. Sometimes, fraudsters may also extort payment details by redirecting the victim to a phishing page for payment.

Risks to the victim

Of course, in the case of such an attack, the victim loses the money paid without receiving the goods. There is also a risk of compromising payment data.

Financial assistance and benefits

This type of fraud offers non-existent government, social, international or charitable benefits and compensation to lure personal and payment information or funds.

Fraudulent scheme

Attackers disseminate information (usually in bulk) about allegedly available financial assistance or compensation via SMS, messengers, social media posts, etc. These messages contain links to fake websites that imitate official portals.

On these sites, the victim is asked to enter personal data, including bank details (card number, expiration date, CVV code) or an internet banking login and password, allegedly to ‘process’ or ‘receive’ a payment. Instead of receiving the funds, the victim's account is debited, or they subscribe to third-party services with periodic debits.

🤝 Fraud through charitable organisations

In this case, the attackers pose as representatives of charities or volunteers to collect funds that are not actually used to help, but are misappropriated by the fraudsters.

Fraudsters create fake charities, social media pages or ads that mimic real fundraising to help the army, victims or others in need. They may use emotional stories, photos and videos to inspire trust and encourage donations.

Very often, in this type of fraud, criminals offer to transfer funds to personal bank cards rather than to official fund accounts. They may also organise fake call centres or send letters on behalf of military units asking for help.

👾 Malicious software (Malware)

Malware is software designed to cause harm to computer systems or their users.

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Distribution

Malware (software) can be spread through:

• infected files downloaded from unreliable sources
• email attachments
• malicious links on websites
• through exploitation of software vulnerabilities
• through automatic downloads when visiting a compromised website)
• through infected external media (USB drives).

Once the malware gets on the device, it installs and starts its malicious activities. This can include stealing data, blocking access to files, using device resources for cryptocurrency mining, or sending spam.

What a hacker gets

Through the malware, cybercriminals gain confidential data, control over the infected device, and the ability to use the device's resources for criminal purposes.

The victim loses confidentiality, data integrity, device performance, and financial resources.

Fraud 2.0: how artificial intelligence works for criminals

It would seem that artificial intelligence is designed to provide humanity with new opportunities for development in a variety of areas. But unfortunately, fraudulent schemes have also undergone improvements. According to a study by Fintech Insider, we will see a new wave of cyber fraud as early as 2025, enhanced by AI capabilities.

Deepfakes on a Zoom call

Business email compromise is reaching a new level. In Hong Kong, company employees transferred almost $30 million believing they were communicating with their own managers via video meetings. In fact, these were dipshits - fake video and audio created with the help of AI. According to Medius, 53% of accountants have already been targeted by such attacks, and 43% admit to having been attacked.

According to Medius

Romantic fraud with chatbots

AI bots that flirt instead of scammers have become a reality. The victim communicates with a new friend, not even knowing that a set of algorithms is addressing them on the other end. This allows fraudsters to lure money, valuable gifts or personal information.

One cybercriminal even boasted on YouTube how his bot communicated with a woman, pretending to be a ‘lover from abroad’. And this is just the beginning: experts predict that in 2025, there will be many more such bots.

Luring into investment

Scams that lure you into dubious investment schemes (also called ‘pig butchering’) are already gaining momentum and rely heavily on AI. This is a scam where victims are lured into supposedly promising investment projects with the promise of huge returns, often through social media such as Telegram, LinkedIn or Instagram.

These schemes are run by entire criminal syndicates, which are increasingly using AI-powered softphones for video calls, voice clones, and chatbots. This makes their ‘investment advice’ and ‘successful investors’ extremely convincing. The hacker gets your money, and you lose your entire investment, realising that you have fallen victim to a sophisticated and sophisticated scam.

How to protect yourself from cyber fraud?

In 2025, fraudsters are not just using phishing and fake websites - they are using artificial intelligence, dipshots, social engineering, and even voice analysis.

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That's why it's no longer enough to just ‘be careful’. You need to have clear digital habits and know what to do in suspicious situations. Below are the effective tips that really work 👇.

1. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible 🔐

Even if your password becomes known to intruders, they will not be able to access your account without a code from your phone or app.

2. Always check who is calling or writing to you 📞

Have you received a call asking you to transfer money or share data? Even if it's a “boss”, “loved one” or “bank security”, pause. Check it out personally through another channel: call or write.

3. Do not trust the face or voice - it may be a fake 🎭

Today it is easy to create fake videos with your friends or colleagues, and they look very convincing. It's the same with the voice. If someone asks you to do something urgently, puts pressure on your emotions, you should be wary.

4. Never share passwords, codes from SMS, bank details, or photos of documents 🔒

No serious organization requests such data through letters, messengers, or social networks. Even if it seems to you that it is an official message, it is better to double-check.

5. Don't click on suspicious links 📨

Before you click, look at where the link goes. Fraudsters often disguise fake sites as real ones (paypa1.com instead of paypal.com). If in doubt, do not open it.

6. Think critically, especially if something looks too attractive or urgent 🧠

“You've won an iPhone!”, “Your card is blocked!” or “We need help urgently!” are all classic hooks. Attackers expect that you will not have time to think.

7. Create strong passwords and use password managers 🔑

One password for everything is like one key to your apartment, car, and office. It is better to use complex, different passwords for each service, and store them in a reliable password manager.

8. Always update your apps, browsers, and operating system 🧾

System updates bring not only a new design, but also important security improvements that close vulnerabilities. Be sure to update your devices on time.

9. Spread the word 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Share these tips with your loved ones, especially older relatives. Fraudsters often target those who are less familiar with modern technology.