In today’s digital age, online security is more crucial than ever. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using automated systems to target both large corporations and individuals alike. Often, they exploit the lack of two-factor authentication to gain unauthorized access to accounts. Many people mistakenly believe they won’t be targeted, but this mindset can lead to vulnerabilities. Fraudsters continuously develop new tactics, such as pressuring victims through SMS, email, social media, or messaging apps like WhatsApp to extract money or personal information.
One primary target for these criminals is banking accounts. Through clever phishing attempts, attackers lure victims to fake bank websites to steal login credentials. To combat this, it’s essential to use two-factor authentication and verify what you are authorizing. Many online accounts, including those from Google and Microsoft, support this additional security measure. Even more secure are authentication methods like passkeys, which offer greater resistance to phishing and data breaches.
To help individuals and businesses protect themselves, we have compiled security tips for home offices, created smartphone checklists, and provided guidance on securing your Wi-Fi router. To ensure these tips reach as many people as possible, we have made all checklists available in a free PDF booklet, accessible through a link in the article titled “An Extra Dose of Security: The c’t Security Checklists 2025.”
Another pressing concern is the safety of personal data on social networks like Facebook. A significant data breach in 2019 revealed that unknown parties could scrape user profile data, including phone numbers, which has since circulated on the dark web. Many affected users have reported spam, phishing calls, and other nuisances. Recently, the German Federal Court of Justice ruled that victims of such data scraping attacks are entitled to non-material damages under Article 82 of the GDPR, suggesting compensation of around 100 euros. With over six million Facebook users affected in Germany, the Consumer Protection Association has filed a class-action lawsuit against Meta Platforms Ltd., Facebook’s parent company. Affected individuals can check if their email addresses or phone numbers are part of the leaked data using services like “Have I Been Pwned.”
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