Tips to Stay Safe from Internet Scams

Quick Summary

• The article explains how the “Darkside ransomware” disrupted the Colonial Pipeline in the U.S., causing a temporary shutdown and leading to gas shortages.Colonial Pipeline paid $4.4 million in ransom to resolve the attack.
• Cybercrimes targeting individuals are increasing, with reports quadrupling between 2005 and 2023, exploiting emotional triggers and cognitive limitations.
• Research suggests humans are predisposed to vulnerability due to psychological factors like readiness potential, decision-making under emotional influence, cognitive overload, and risk-taking during positive emotions.
• Personalized cyberattacks (spear-phishing) substantially increase victim susceptibility; research shows effectiveness rises threefold when attacks are tailored using private data.
• Tools like Incogni help reduce risks by removing personally identifiable information from online databases and suppressing personalized marketing lists to curb exposure.
• Education about phishing significantly enhances individual vigilance against scams.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The rise of ransomware attacks highlights vulnerabilities in global critical infrastructure-an area India must increasingly consider as it accelerates its own digital transformation.As evidenced by past incidents like financial malware attacking ATMs or breaches in government systems, India faces similar threats due to its expanding base of internet users.

From a human behavioral lens noted in the article, India’s evolving cybersecurity strategy should account for cognitive tendencies that make individuals prone to scams-especially emotions driving impulsive decisions or susceptibility during periods of cognitive overload. Awareness campaigns emphasizing phishing training may complement existing regulations like CERT-In’s advisories on cybersecurity.

With AI tools becoming accessible for predictive threat management (akin to Incogni), Indian organizations might benefit from integrating mechanisms aimed at cleansing personal data traces while scaling preventive measures digitally. Lastly, rising cyber threat levels underscore the importance of public-private collaboration: stronger corporate openness combined with better user education could mitigate these risks effectively.

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