Hacker attacks are increasing - IT expert warns: "Many downplay the problem"

Created: 03/26/2022, 08:57

By: Dominik Stallein

More and more hacker attacks on citizens, authorities and companies: An IT expert is now sounding the alarm.

©Oliver Berg/dpa

The IT expert Silvio Voigt from Geretsried gives tips on how to protect yourself from cybercrime.

He doesn't leave a good hair on the Kaspersky software.

Geretsried – Silvio Voigt knows the pitfalls on the internet: Geretsrieder is an EDP expert and gives tips on how internet users can protect themselves from hacker attacks.

Hacker attacks are increasing - IT expert warns: "Many downplay the problem"

Mr. Voigt, we regularly hear about hacker attacks.

Is the problem really that big?

Voigt:

I even believe that we are not yet taking the danger seriously enough.

Many downplay the problem and are very naïve about their data and security.

Little good is coming out of the internet at the moment.

Cyber ​​attacks have increased massively since the beginning of March at the latest.

At the companies I work for, we have revised the protection and in some cases provided completely new hardware.

You just have to take more action.

Silvio Voigt IT specialist from Geretsried © archive

The focus is on the Russian antivirus Kaspersky.

There is even a warning from the Federal Office for Information Security.

Voigt:

Such a warning should be taken seriously.

Personally, I didn't think much of Kaspersky before that either: the program slows down the system, interferes everywhere, needs access to everything and complicates work.

That makes me skeptical.

There are many providers that I would rather recommend.

But of course: It is better to protect yourself with Kaspersky than not at all.

What would you advise private individuals who want to protect themselves and their data better?

Voigt:

You should definitely install up-to-date virus protection.

The operating system of the computers should be checked regularly for updates.

On the one hand through updates - which actually every user can do -, on the other hand don't forget the status of the device drivers.

The spam filter should be activated.

One should be very careful with e-mails: For example, every time before I open an e-mail, I would check the sender's address and ask myself whether I expected this e-mail or if I can explain why I'm getting it.

Attachments should be opened with particular care.

How do I protect myself from hackers?

IT expert gives tips

The file extensions should also be checked.

With emails that contain links, the risk is greatest that the user will compromise himself and his system.

Before I open zip files or similar attachments to the mail, I should scan them with my virus software.

It goes way beyond common sense: if I'm skeptical, I delete the email without opening it.

I save my private data on an external data medium as a backup and do not leave them on my computer.

In most cases, once data is gone, I never get it back.

The interview was conducted by Dominik Stallein.

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