Cyber crims are everywhere

“Would you mind having a quick look at this USB for me?” It sounds harmless enough. Perhaps a friend wants help with holiday photos, or someone at the local club is handing over meeting documents.

Most of us wouldn’t think twice about plugging a USB stick into our computer.

Cyber criminals know that, too.

One of the simplest ways for hackers to infect a computer is through a USB device.

The moment it’s plugged in, hidden software can automatically install itself without any warning.

In some cases, the owner of the USB may not even realise their device is infected. Viruses can quietly spread from one computer to another like a digital cold.

Over the years, I’ve seen cases where a single infected USB caused family photos to disappear, passwords to be stolen or computers to become painfully slow.

Sometimes the damage isn’t obvious straight away. A computer may continue working normally while hidden software secretly collects personal information in the background.

These days, USB devices can be surprisingly sneaky. Some are designed to look completely ordinary while containing malicious programs specifically created to attack Windows or Apple computers.

There have even been reports of ‘free’ USB sticks handed out at conferences or left in public places, hoping somebody’s curiosity will get the better of them. The safest rule is very simple: if you don’t fully trust the USB device, don’t plug it in.

The same caution applies to public USB charging stations. Many people plug their phones into charging ports at airports, shopping centres, hotels or libraries without thinking much about it.

While many are perfectly safe, some can potentially transfer data as well as power. This means a compromised charging station could attempt to access information from your phone.

Using your own wall charger or carrying a small portable battery pack is usually a much safer option.

Thankfully, staying safe doesn’t require being a computer expert. A few simple habits make a huge difference.

Keeping your computer updated is one of the best protections available. Those update reminders that pop up on your screen can feel annoying, but they often contain important security fixes. Cyber criminals actively target older software because they know many people delay updates for weeks or months.

Strong passwords matter, too. I still meet many people using passwords such as ‘123456’ or the family dog’s name. A good password should be long, unique and difficult to guess. Consider using a password manager so you don’t have to remember dozens of different logins.

Email scams also continue to catch many good people out. If an email creates panic or urgency – perhaps claiming your bank account has been locked or a parcel delivery failed – take a moment before clicking anything.

Scammers rely on people reacting quickly without stopping to think.

If in doubt, contact the organisation directly using a phone number or website you already know is genuine.

Backing up your important files is another simple but powerful habit. Family photos, important documents and treasured memories should never exist in only one place. An external hard drive or trusted cloud backup can save enormous heartache if a computer fails or is infected.

Computers, phones and the internet are wonderful tools that help us stay connected, informed and entertained. Most online dangers can be avoided with a little awareness and a healthy dose of caution.

Computer security is like home security: you don’t need bars on every window and cameras in every corner. Locking the front door and being careful about who you let inside is usually enough.

The same principle applies to that innocent-looking USB stick.

 Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology Tech Support for Seniors. Visit greyology.com.au