Cybersecurity issues are becoming more important every year – fraudsters are inventing new schemes for stealing money, blackmailing and bullying. Every week, major media outlets report on leaks, theft of money and blackmail on the Internet. To avoid this, you need to follow simple rules of Internet security.
What is internet security
Internet security is a set of measures to protect devices, data and users from threats on the Internet. It is not only antiviruses and complex passwords, but also conscious behavior: the ability to recognize fraud, critically evaluate information and immediately notice something suspicious.
Why is this important? In 2024, over 1.8 billion cyberattacks were blocked in Russia by Kaspersky Lab (excluding DDoS and phishing ). Although the overall number of attacks did not increase significantly, the number of incidents on Android devices increased by 12%. The main threats were malware distributed through instant messengers under the guise of photo, medical services and parcel tracking applications (especially the SpyNote and Mamont Trojans), as well as over 500,000 ransomware attacks.
Main threats on the Internet
Before we move on to the rules of protection, let’s figure out what exactly we need to protect ourselves from. Here are the most common threats in RuNet.
Phishing
Fraudsters send letters or messages, disguising themselves as banks, government agencies or popular services (for example, Sberbank or Gosuslugi). The goal is to lure out logins, passwords or card data. According to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, in the second quarter of 2024, attackers stole almost 5 billion rubles from citizens and companies . Social engineering and phishing attacks were mainly used for deception.
Malware
Malware is specially created software that causes damage to devices, data, or users. It can copy itself (like viruses and worms), disguise itself as legitimate software (like Trojans), block access to files with a ransom demand (Ransomware), secretly collect information (spyware), or display intrusive advertising.
The main goals of malware are theft of confidential data, financial fraud, espionage or disruption of systems. It is distributed through phishing emails, infected files, vulnerabilities in programs or fake websites.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying on social networks and messengers. It is reported that in 2024, one of the main reasons for cyberbullying of children was the content published by their parents. Aggressive classmates use these photos and videos to bully on the Internet. According to the Security 2.0 center, such cases have increased by 30% over the year, and now they account for 23% of all online conflicts.
Identity theft
Fraudsters create fake profiles, take out loans in your name, or blackmail you with information leaks. In January-February 2025, Roskomnadzor identified 19 personal data leaks, due to which more than 24 million records of Russian users became publicly available. In 2024, the agency recorded 135 incidents with the leak of more than 710 million records.
Social Media Fraud
Fraudsters create fake profiles, imitate official company pages, send messages asking to transfer money, offer “profitable investments” or “free prizes” after payment for delivery. They often use phishing links leading to fake sites to collect logins, passwords or bank data. Schemes with blackmail and fake surveys are common .
Rules of information and digital security on the network
Below we will list the most important and reliable methods that will help you resist cybercriminals.
1. Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
Even if an attacker finds out your password, they won’t be able to log into your account without the code from an SMS or a special app. Enable 2FA in all important services: email, social networks, and banking apps.
2. Update your software regularly
Outdated versions of programs and operating systems are a loophole for hackers. For example, Microsoft encourages recycling old Windows 10 PCs. This is explained, among other things, by security issues.
3. Don’t click on suspicious links
Be careful, even if the letter came from a “colleague” or “friend”. In 2023, a wave of letters with the subject “Your account has been blocked” swept across Russia, where links led to phishing copies of “Gosuslugi” and Sber.
4. Encrypt sensitive data
Use a VPN when using public Wi-Fi (e.g. in a cafe). Choose password managers like Dashlane or Bitwarden to store passwords, but never notes on your phone.
5. Check sources of information
Fake news and deepfakes have been a big problem in recent years. Learn to distinguish reliable media from fraudulent resources and always double-check information in different sources.
Internet Safety Rules for Children and Schoolchildren
Fraudsters deceive not only pensioners, but also children. Therefore, it is extremely important to control the child and teach him the rules of cyber hygiene .
1. Set up parental controls
Programs like Kaspersky Safe Kids or Google Family Link will help limit access to dangerous content and monitor the activity of the child and gadget.
2. Explain that personal information cannot be shared
Even if a “new friend” in the game promises a gift for a phone number. For example, in 2022 in Zelenograd, a schoolboy gave his parents’ card details to scammers , believing in a “free skin” for Minecraft. As a result, about 100 thousand rubles were written off from the bank card.
3. Teach how to recognize trolling and bullying
4. Monitor your social media posts
Photos in school uniform, geotags from home, mentions of clubs – all this helps criminals to build a dossier on the child. Teach your child not to publish personal data in the public domain.
5. Learn together
Show your child educational platforms (Uchi.ru, Yandex.Textbook) and games that develop digital literacy, for example, “Learn the Internet – Manage It” from Rostelecom.
Internet Security: How to Avoid Scammers
Nowadays, many people communicate online, and scammers understand this perfectly well. To avoid becoming their victim, follow these simple recommendations:
- Never disclose confidential information to anyone online: passwords, PIN codes, CVV codes of cards and passport data.
- Don’t trust blindly. If a stranger writes asking for money, personal information, or offers a “great deal,” it’s a clear sign of a scammer.
- Be careful with fake profiles. Fraudsters often copy photos and data of real people. Check the account creation date, number of friends and activity. If it concerns a loan, call the real person yourself.
- Do not open attachments from emails or messages from unknown senders. They may contain viruses or spyware.
- Don’t trust “easy money”. If Telegram offers to “earn 100,000 rubles in a day” – it’s a pyramid or a “buy-sell” scheme with deception.
- Check your interlocutors. Fake profiles often have few friends, stock avatars and strange nicknames (for example, “Ivan Petrov123”).
- Don’t send voice messages to strangers. Modern neural networks can copy voices, and scammers will use this for blackmail.
- Don’t agree to video calls with strangers. In 2023, cases of blackmail using intimate recordings made via Zoom became more frequent in Russia.
How to protect your personal data on the Internet
It is recommended not to publish personal data on social networks and other open sources. Leave as few digital traces as possible:
- Limit your data in social networks and provide a minimum of information. For example, in VKontakte you can hide your date of birth, city, and phone number.
- Use virtual cards for online payments. All major Russian banks allow you to create one-time card numbers for online payments. Top up these cards only with the amount of the purchase. Ideally, you should make sure that the card is always empty – this way money will not be written off for some unnecessary subscription.
- Delete old accounts. Unused profiles on forums or in stores are a target for hackers. Take the time to delete them.
- Don’t take suspicious surveys. “Guess which movie character you are” may be data collection for password guessing.
Expert Advice
Dmitry Galov, head of Kaspersky GReAT in Russia, shared an interesting expert opinion on the topic of internet security .
Today, users risk facing a wide range of cyber threats: phishing, scams, phone fraud, malware – both on PCs and smartphones . To reduce cyber risks, we recommend combining technical and non-technical security measures:
- Be critical of any information on the Internet, especially when it comes to scary or extremely generous messages and offers.
- Do not follow links or download files (including supposed photos or videos) from dubious correspondence in instant messengers, social networks or email.
- Use unique, complex passwords to protect your accounts and set up two-factor authentication for those services that allow it.
- Do not share confirmation codes from SMS and push notifications with anyone.
- Download programs from official sources: app stores and from developer company websites.
- Regularly update installed applications and the operating system.
- Pay attention to the name of the site in the address bar: if it differs from the original even by one letter or the “incorrect” domain zone is indicated there, you should not enter confidential data on such a resource.
- Use a security solution on your PC and smartphones: it will prevent you from installing malware or clicking on a phishing link, and also use a caller ID that will notify you if there have been fraudulent complaints about the incoming number.
Attackers can use such leaked data to implement their schemes – to increase the credibility of legends in the context of telephone fraud, phishing and online blackmail. For example, refer to the potential victim’s place of work, address them by their first name and patronymic, indicate their last name and other information. In addition, if we are talking about leaked logins and passwords, attackers can use them to try to gain access to a person’s accounts in various services. For this reason, we recommend not only using complex and unique passwords, but also changing them regularly.
A reminder on safe behavior on the Internet
Internet safety starts with small things: critical thinking, attentiveness, and a willingness to learn. Follow simple cyber hygiene rules that will help you and your children:
- Passwords should be complex (more than 12 characters, mixed case, special characters) and ideally stored in a secure password manager.
- Check the website address: phishing pages often have typos (for example, “sberbankk.ru”).
- Don’t trust anyone. Even if a suspicious link was sent by a friend, it’s better to ask him personally what it is.
- Learn from the mistakes of others and follow the news in the field of cybersecurity.