Here are some common ways hackers can capture other people’s credit card data – and how you can keep your data safe
Cybercrime underground is worth a good oiled machine Trillion dollars On the annual dark web sites hidden from law enforcement and most consumers, cybercriminals buy and sell huge amounts of stolen data, as well as the hacking tools needed to retrieve them. There are supposed to be as many 24 billion illegally obtained usernames and passwords Currently circulating such sites, for example. The most sought after is the latest card data, which is later bought in large quantities by fraudsters for identity fraud.
In countries where chip and PIN (also known as EMV) systems have been implemented, turning this data into a cloned card is challenging. So it is usually used online in card-not-present (CNP) attacks. Fraudsters can use it to buy luxury items for sale up front, or perhaps they can buy gift cards in bulk – another popular way to smuggle illicit funds. The market scale of these cards is difficult to estimate. But administrators of the world’s largest underground marketplace have recently retired By an estimated 8 358 million.
With that in mind, here are 5 of the most common ways hackers can capture your credit card data – and how to turn them off:
1. Phishing
Phishing One of the most popular strategies for cyber criminals to steal information. In its simplest form, this is a strategy in which a hacker tricks you into revealing your personal details as a legitimate entity (e.g., a bank, an e-commerce provider, or a technology company), or inadvertently downloading malware. They often encourage users to click on a link or open an attachment. Doing so sometimes leads the user to a phishing page – where you will be encouraged to enter personal and financial information. Phishing Hall Says to hit Q1 2022 all-time high.
These scandals have evolved in recent years. Instead of an email, today you can get a malicious text (SMS) from a hacker pretending to be a delivery company, a government agency or another trusted organization. Scammers may call you again pretending to be a trusted source to get your card details. SMS phishing has more than doubled in 2021, while voice phishing has increased, according to A guess.
2. Malware
Cybercrime underground is a huge marketplace, not just for data but also for malware. Different types of malicious code have been designed over the years to steal information. Someone records your keystrokes – like you’re typing card details into an e-commerce or banking site. How can bad guys get these tools on your machine?
Phishing email or text is a popular method. Malicious online advertising is another. In other cases, they may compromise with popular websites and wait for users to visit them. This type of drive-by-download malware is installed as soon as you visit the compromised site. Data-stealing malware is often hidden in legitimate-looking but malicious mobile apps.
3. Digital skimming
Sometimes even hackers Install malware on payment pages Of e-commerce sites. These are invisible to the user, but as soon as they are entered, the details of your card will be skimmed Users can do more than just shop with big-name brands and websites, which can be even more secure. Digital skimming detection (aka online card skimming) 150% increased Between May and November 2021.
4. Data breach
Sometimes card details are stolen directly from the companies with which you do business. It could be a healthcare provider, an e-commerce store or a travel company. This is a more cost-effective way to do things from a hacker’s point of view, because in an attack they gain access to huge amounts of data.
On the other hand, with phishing campaigns, they have to steal from individuals one by one – although these attacks are usually automated. The bad news is that 2021 was a record year for data Violations in the United States.
5. Public Wi-Fi
When you’re out and about, you may be tempted to surf the web for free at airports, hotels, cafes and other shared spaces – public Wi-Fi hotspots. Even if you have to pay to join the network, it may not be safe if hackers do the same. They can use this access to spy on your details as soon as you enter them.
How to secure your credit card details
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to reduce the risk of losing your card data. Consider the following as a good place to start:
- Be careful: never reply, click on a link or open an attachment from an unsolicited email. They can get booby-trapped with malware. Or they may take you to legitimate phishing pages where you will be encouraged to enter your details.
- Do not disclose any details over the phone, even if the person on the other end seems credible. Ask where they’re calling from and then call the company again to check – even if they don’t use the contact number they give you.
- Do not use the Internet on public Wi-Fi, especially without a virtual private network. If you have to, don’t do anything that requires you to provide card details (such as online shopping).
- Don’t save card details on online shopping or other sites, although it does help save time for future visits. This will reduce the chances of your card data being taken if the company infringes or your account is hijacked.
- Download anti-malware with anti-phishing protection on all laptops and other devices from a reputable security vendor
- Use two-factor authentication on all sensitive accounts. This reduces the chances of hackers opening with stolen / phished passwords.
- Download apps only from legitimate Marketplace (Apple App Store, Google Play).
- If you’ve made a purchase online, do so only on HTTPS sites (this should display a padlock in the browser address bar next to the URL). This means less likely to intercept data.
Finally, it is a good practice to keep an eye on all your bank and card accounts. If you see a suspicious transaction, tell your bank / card issuing fraud team immediately. Some apps now allow you to “freeze” all costs on certain cards until you can confirm if there are any security breaches. There are plenty of ways for bad guys to get our card details, but we can do a lot to keep them at arm’s length.