Visualizing the threat of cybercrime, in real time

The experts at AV-TEST also collect thousands of samples of spam and phishing emails in real time on their AV-ATLAS platform on a daily basis. Every week, they register millions of new malware variants in their malware databases for Windows, Mac and Android. This is just a snippet of the current threats posed by cybercrime. You can find more information, which is available for free on the platform. “The platform offers a good overview of the attack campaigns that are currently making the rounds. Website visitors can click on ‘Spam’ in the side panel and view the subject lines that cyberattackers are currently using in their emails”, explains Erik Heyland, Head of Testing Labs at AV-TEST.

Some users have become so concerned with all the dangers of cybercrime that they hardly go online anymore. But there are ways to increase your security online! If you install good security software, you can protect your Mac and Windows computers against the dangers of malware and malicious spam. And password tools and two-factor authentication insure the protection of your online accounts, as well. Further, a tailored online strategy will provide greater security when you shop online. And while we’re talking about it, you should also have a look at your children’s laptops, tablets and smartphones, because these devices also need adequate protection, such as a security app for Android or Windows.

Greater cybersecurity for everyone

As we’ve just pointed out, the first step is to protect your own devices from the dangers of cybercrime. Here are a few tips for improving your cybersecurity:

Security packages for Windows: Always use tried-and-tested protection software wherever possible, preferably one that is approved by experts in the field. For example, the AV-TEST team examines a wide range of products every two months and evaluates them in terms of protection and performance as well as their ability to deal with false alarms. It enables you as a user to determine which product performed best in the testing and whether or not you’re already using a winning product.

Security packages for Mac: The test lab regularly checks many security products for MacOS systems. You’ll quickly find here which products will best protect your Mac from cyberattacks.

Security apps for Android: People often neglect their smartphone, but they forget that it is online around the clock and stores valuable data, making it an ideal target for cyberattacks. If you are already using a premium security package on a Windows or Mac device, there’s a good chance that it also includes a license for your mobile devices. Check out the AV-TEST website for an overview of the tried-and-tested protection apps for Android – there’s no paywall!

The security packages for Mac and Windows also resolve the annoying issue of spam and phishing emails. “The security software generally detects the threat immediately on receipt or it protects you when you click the link or try to open an attachment containing malware", underscores Erik Heyland, Head of Testing Labs at AV-TEST.

Now that your computer is well equipped with protection software, you should turn to your online accounts and make sure that they are equally protected. There are two solutions that make the whole process go smoothly:

Password managers/vaults: You can rely on a computer or online password managers to start using strong passwords for your online services. What’s more, you do not need to remember all of them. KeePass, for example, is a popular tool that stores your passwords in a database for you. There are clients for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS users. If you want to manage your passwords entirely online or if you prefer to use an Android app, you could consider using Bitwarden, a free password manager.

Two-factor authentication: In addition to using a username and password for your online accounts, you often need a second means of authentication – often referred to as two-factor authentication. Most online service providers offer this type of authentication for user accounts. If you’re not sure, just check the 2FA Directory for more information. However, often you will need to activate the additional layer of protection yourself. Once you have activated two-factor authentication, you will receive an additional code – either by email or text message – or you will need to generate a code yourself via the free Android authentication app (Google Authenticator), which can also be configured for iOS.

This additional layer of protection works in the same way on all major shopping portals where you also have a customer account. In this manner, you can better protect any information you’ve stored there, such as payment details, accounts, and/or credit cards.

And while you’re working to improve the security of your digital life, you should also consider protecting your children and their online devices. After all, it won’t be long before their laptops and smartphones end up as potential targets for attacks via social media or spam/phishing emails, for example. All of the security tools we’ve touched on here will improve your children’s level of protection in their digital lives.

Even seemingly safe apps can trawl for data. Keep this in mind and use the services of the App Privacy Analysis. The analysis helps you discover which apps are collecting what data, and how much data they want to vacuum up.