Many security experts agree that most of the general public just does not know enough about online dangers to care until the day it happens to them. Is there really something to fear? What are the dangers of someone stealing your data from you using online access? Well, it’s no joke but you don’t need to let it be a fearful situation either. With a little awareness and some security tools, you can join the ranks of a much safer online experience. Let’s go over what can happen to you if you are an unfortunate victim of a cyber-criminal.
Dangers of Data Theft
Identity Theft
Identity theft lists as the biggest danger. The criminals involved in this type of practice can be located just about anywhere in the world. They collect various pieces of information on you that allow them to create a fake identity, accounts, IDs, credit, passports and existence all under your nose. This only happens to a small percentage of people, we know, but what if it happens to you? You can be left with a big mess to try and clean up with possible roadblocks form being able to get back certain life aspects you take for granted.
Drain Your Bank Account
A cracker that is stealing your personal banking information does not necessarily need all your private data or even steal your identity in order to take all your money. Everyone who uses online banking has thought about being hacked at least once and it is a valid concern. Anyone able to steal your banking login details can start transferring money and using your credit while you sleep! When this happens with an overseas attacker, trying to get legal action rolling might be impossible.
Ruin Your Credit Rating
With your banking or credit card info, an attacker can ravage the credit rating you spent years building. The time it takes for the credit to be destroyed is minuscule when put next to the continuous effort you set forth to build a financial future. You can always rebuild credit but the effects can be devastating for your short-term plans.
Give Out Your Location
With all the information we share online and all the entities which we provide our full names, addresses and contact numbers to can often be less secure than desired. Your child’s school information and address all the way to mailing boxes and home addresses can be stolen. Having your location divulged to dangerous individuals is less than ideal for the safety of your whole family.
Every Day Spying of Your Personal Life
Last but not least, without proper protection, your online activity can be collected by spying agencies all the time, leaving them every detail you share online, from personal and private pictures all the way to what you had for lunch and your daily activities and whereabouts. How much would you like it if someone followed you around and knew every little detail of your personal life and that of your family? Would you let the government open all your mailed letters? Why would you accept them reading all your emails? The basic right to privacy is important. The large timeframe of collected data can be used the wrong way, creating a collage of data and making up events and timelines that never happened in such a way that can incriminate you of crimes you never even committed.
All of these reasons should be enough to persuade you to get protection. At this time, constant revelations show just how much danger can come from current spying activities and although right now it may not seem so important, the dangers that lurk remain present and plausible for the rest of your existence. Better be safe as early as possible, than having to regret it later. The best way to keep yourself and your family safe from all these dangers today, is to invest in a VPN service and ensuring all of the used devices use the private connection to effectively encrypt your data and secure it from attackers both from your home and on any public internet connection.
For some great VPNs, check out our top picks here.
