A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Online Threats and Staying Safe
Welcome to World of Cyber Crimes
Cybercrime affects millions of people every year. Scams, stolen passwords, hacked phones, fake shopping sites, ransomware, deepfake videos – it's all part of the same problem.
The good news: you don't need to be a tech expert to spot most of these threats. A little awareness goes a long way.
This page is a simple starting point. It points you to trusted, mostly free videos, courses, podcasts, and channels that explain cybercrime in plain language and show you how to stay safer online.
Whether you just want to avoid getting scammed, or you're thinking about a future career in cybersecurity, this is a place to begin.
Stay aware of emerging threats designed to catch you off guard.
Attackers are now using AI to personalize phishing emails with specific details about you—your name, company, recent purchases, or colleagues. These messages feel more believable than generic spam, making them harder to spot at first glance.
How to protect: Check email addresses carefully, avoid clicking links in unexpected messages, and when in doubt, go directly to the official website. See our 30-Second Scam Check for more.
Criminals are creating deepfake videos of celebrities, CEOs, and trusted people asking you to send money or crypto. Verify-your-identity scams use fake video calls or recorded messages claiming urgent action is needed. These look surprisingly real.
How to protect: Remember that no legitimate company will ask you to verify identity or send money via video chat or urgent request. Always call the company using a number you look up independently. See Common Online Scams.
New malware targets mobile banking apps, stealing login credentials and one-time passwords. Some trojans pose as legitimate app updates or security warnings before infecting your phone.
How to protect: Only download apps from official app stores, keep your phone updated, and use two-factor authentication on your bank account. More details in Your Phone Is a Target.
Most cybercrime doesn't look like a movie. It looks like a normal message in your inbox, on WhatsApp, or on a website. Here are some of the most common patterns:
Messages that look like they're from your bank, a delivery company, or a big brand. They often say something went wrong or urgent – "your account will be closed", "your package is held", "you've been charged". The goal is to make you click a link and enter your password or card details.
Fake warnings that appear in your browser claiming "your computer is infected" with a phone number to call. Real companies like Microsoft or Apple do not show phone numbers in big red pop-ups.
Websites with big discounts, little or no contact info, and only unusual payment methods. They might never ship anything, or they'll steal your card.
Promises of "guaranteed returns", "secret strategies", or fake celebrity endorsements. If someone you don't know is pushing you to send money fast, it's almost always a scam.
Once you learn to recognize these patterns, you'll start seeing them everywhere—and that's a good thing.
Before you click a link, open an attachment, or send money, pause for 30 seconds and run through this quick checklist:
If something feels off, stop. Go to the company's official website by typing it yourself, or call a known phone number you find independently.
For many people, the phone is the main way they go online. That makes it a prime target for attackers. Here are a few things to watch for:
Texts that claim to be from delivery companies, banks, or government agencies with a short link. They often say "your package is held", "unusual login detected", or "you are owed a refund". Treat all unexpected links with suspicion.
Fake versions of popular apps, "free" versions of paid apps, or tools that ask for way too many permissions. If an app wants access to your SMS, contacts, microphone, and files for no clear reason, that's a warning sign.
QR codes on posters, flyers, or websites can take you anywhere. Scammers can replace a real code with a fake one that leads to a phishing page or malware download.
Stick to official app stores whenever possible, and avoid downloading apps from random websites.
Keep your phone's system updated, use a screen lock, and think before tapping any link.
If you think you clicked something bad, entered a password on a fake site, or installed a suspicious app, don't ignore it. Quick action can limit the damage.
Acting quickly is more important than doing everything perfectly.